crxssdhearts

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier leaned back just so, one leg crossed languidly over the other, fingers idly tracing the stem of a goblet someone had left nearby. He cast a sidelong glance toward the source of movement nearby, lashes low, voice dipped in a silken hush. “Did you see the one in green?” he asked, a flick of his eyes toward the stage. “Moved like a startled goat on a frozen stone. Tragic, really. I think my soul left my body somewhere in the second stanza.”

A dry, almost-smile tugs at his lips, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes, not yet. “Still,” he said, as he swirled the wine he hadn’t yet tasted, “I suppose we all suffer for art. I just didn’t expect to suffer through it.” A heartbeat's time, and then, with just enough vulnerability to be intriguing he added, “And now that it's done. Do I earn a sigh of relief or something sweeter?” His smile was finally genuine, but measured. After all, a leaf must dance before it falls.

having  completed  a  performance  out  in  the  open  air  ,  voice  hoarse  from  the  monologue  which  luci  has  spent  hours  and  hours  poring  over  (  and  ,  in  truth  ,  rather  uncaring  of  the  whole  oh  ,  what  a  mess  with  the  king  thing  ;  what  business  has  that  to  do  with  him  ?  unless  they  could  pretend  to  be  gaean  …  )  a  softness  to  their  features  ,  though  this  might  not  last  long  when  their  personal  self  -  critic  begins  to  rear  its  head  .  they  rake  their  hands  through  their  hair  ,  already  having  basked  in  the  applause  which  arose  from  those  who  attended  ,  and  the  seat  into  which  he  sinks  down  ,  one  at  the  front  ,  has  little  vacancies  .  still  there  are  a  few  readings  to  do  ,  and  so  he  keeps  his  voice  low  ,  conspiratorial  :  “  shadows  save  us  ,  what  a  drag  it  was  to  get  up  to  this  point  .  if  we  must  listen  to  another  ode  to  the  skies  ,  i  might  ask  for  the  high  lady  to  banish  them  from  the  stage  .  ”  luci  did  not  even  know  if  she  was  in  attendance  .  they  almost  hope  not  .  they  wish  to  save  most  ears  from  the  current  limerick  going  on  ,  the  dancing  across  the  stage  .  their  bald  ,  surprised  stare  is  almost  hostile  .  “  i  don't  think  even  the  least  surly  of  dragons  would  find  this  funny  ,  ” muses  he  . ( a compliment would be nice for he . ) / @rosaxseer ; @sparkledcrowns ; @stxrfclls ; @brckenrctual ; @crxssdhearts .

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier turned at the sound of the voice near him. His face formed a frustrated smile. "Oh, aren't you the clever clairvoyant?" He said, shaking his head. "Retreat? Never. That would be admitting defeat. And I will never admit defeat." Xavier sighed, brushing off the splashed water on him.

"Did you come out to witness my little war, or was there something I could help you with?" He asked her as he slowly edged his way away from the water, hoping to put more distance between him and his foe.

the lull of the ocean managed to calm some of her nerves. she wonders --- not for the first time --- whether the Mother would bless her with a vision. she wonders --- even more-so --- why she wasn't given a vision of king kabir's death. of the high rulers defeating him with certainty.

did it matter?

but her attention diverts to a frustrated voice, to a another fae who was --- arguing with the waves.

despite herself, a smile blossoms. mihri draws closer, a chuckle falling as the other pushed a hand through his curls.

"you will lose this battle with the water," she laughs. "and most likely the war too." she folds her hands behind her, stepping backward further away from the ocean. "i'd say retreat is a fine call!"

[crxssdhearts]

While Xavier was doing his best to make the situation they were in more tolerable for him, that didn't mean he was all for sitting in the sand next to the infernal sea that taunted him. "I know you are all for us getting out and about, but why did we have to come here." He said as he motioned to the water. He took the drink and the pastry that Dabin had offered him. He definitely wanted it. "I know. I keep waiting for the next, thing." He said shrugging. He took a drink of the fizzy liquid, looking at the glass. "This is just juice?" He sighed looking out at the water as it battered against the sand in front of them. "Have you heard anything from home?" He asked, knowing some people had recieved letters from home.

“  here  .  i  got  you  this  .  ”  one  eye  squints  up  in  a  lopsided  smile  as  dabin  sprawls  ,  returning  to  his  usual  and  expected  postures  ,  on  the  shores  .  he  still  hasn't  gained  a  fear  of  water  nor  a  hatred  of  the  sea  itself  ,  and  he  will  be  dragging  others  to  ensure  that  they  don't  stay  locked  up  in  the  ivory  tower  of  adriata  .  now  that  would  be  incredibly  boring  ,  and  most  who  orbited  near  the  autumn  lord  know  exactly  how  he's  feeling  about  boredom  .  he  flops  with  an  ahhhh  ,  then  extends  the  offering  .  it's  a  colourful  ,  deep  red  kind  of  drink  that  fizzes  and  smells  prominently  of  pomegranate  ,  iced  and  prepared  ,  alongside  something  the  server  said  went  well  with  it  ,  a  kind  of  …  pastry  or  something  .  “  and  if  you  don't  want  it  …  then  i  got  it  for  me  .  ” a  shield  over  his  eyes  to  protect  from  the  sun  ,  a  light  tan  kissing  his  skin  ,  he  smirks  as  he  tries  to  stretch  out  and  relax  .  “  is  it  bad  of  me  to  be  like  :  now  what  ?  i  almost  don't  know  what  to  do  now  that  we  aren't  being  dutifully  threatened  by  the  crown  .  ” he  hums  then  ,  considering  this  .  it's  a  relief  ,  for  sure  ,  but  by  the  flames  ,  he  almost  feels  empty  without  it  around  . / @rosaxseer ; @brckenrctual ; @feathcrcd ; @arashway ; @crxssdhearts ; @stxrfclls .

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier had resolved to make the most of the oppressive heat that clung to the court like a second skin. He still refused to go anywhere near the water, a fact that complicated things, considering it seemed to be everywhere, but he was determined to adapt as best he could.

After another day spent wandering beyond Adriata, mingling with the People of Summer and gathering what fragments of insight he could, he finally returned to the autumn suite. A smile tugged at his lips the moment Ara spoke.

"You are neither old nor dull, m’lady," he said, sincerity woven into every word, his smile warm and unguarded. "Light things, you say? Now that, I absolutely want to hear." He reached for the bottle and poured himself a glass, settling in to join her.

CLOSED for @crxssdhearts -- xavier. autumn suite.

THE BATTLE HAD BEEN A COMPLETE TRIUMPH OF THE HIGH LIEGES, yet Ara had been... well, a little unimpressed, to be quite frank. She had been worried about Gaeul, but she'd also be lying to say she wasn't a bit apprehensive of the possibility that magic had a very personal beef with scholars - meaning it could've been her neck on the line if it had decided to switch them all to Autumn. Well, turns out she didn't have to worry about either of those things - not about her cousin, nor about the court skip. Seems like Summer was the magic's bias favourite. Sighing at the realization that Prythian will now get uncertain & yet another tedious fight may await them, Ara grabbed the bottle nearest to the sofa she was lounging on & poured herself a hefty glass of amber liquid. Whiskey? Scotch?

ah, it didn't matter anyway.

Taking a sip, she scowled at the liquid that had burned her throat ( differently from gin - all of there amber liquids tasted like... nausea & the consequence of an upset stomach ). But, with her foul mood never lasted for too long & when the court's emissary sauntered into the suite, Ara's vivacious grin returned to her lips.

"If it isn't the brightest gem of Autumn's crown, our very own silver -& gilded - tongued emissary." she teased in an amused tone. "Care to join a boring old lady for a drink, Xavier? I promise to talk of light things only, rather than the ghoulish reprises of the great battle. I do long for a reprieve from the tedious affairs of regicide."

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier had been working every angle to get whatever information he could. Some of it was more difficult to get, some of it was more enjoyable for him. Today had been the more enjoyable kind. He wiped off the glitter he felt sticking to his forehead as he sauntered into the tea parlor. He looked around the room before finding someone he recognized. A smile on his face he slid into the seat across from her.

"How could I say no to that invitation?" He nodded nd waved over one of the servants. "If you could please provide us with a new pot of tea that would be very appreciated." He winked at the girl who seemed to blush at his words. "I feel like I haven't seen you much since we arrived in this place." He said, waving his hand around.

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 ⎯ @brckenrctual , @ethercvl , @sparkledcrowns , @crxssdhearts , @karmillaalvez, @n1ghtsongs, @stxrfclls

contrary  to  beliefs,  an  emissary's  work  was  hardly  ever  done  and  in  the  aftermath  of  what  has  occurred,  aurora  had  a  feeling  their  work  would  double  the  questions  remained,  what  would  happen  to  gaea  with  it's  monarchy?  somehow,  she's  certain  the  fae  of  gaea  felt  what  dusk  has,  in  some  manner  all  this  time  as  they  thought  of  where  they  might  fit  in  prythian.  it  was  bittersweet  emotions  for  the  blond,  of  witnessing  her  creator  reveal  her  true  face.  aurora  has  never  mistaken  their  dark  mother  for  a  saint  -  still,  it  comes  as  a  shock  of  what  lengths  she'd  go  to  for  her  revenge.  that  her  revenge  consumed  her  so  greatly,  the  dragon  rider  wonders  would  she  have  placed  dusk  in  further  danger  as  well  for  her  goals?  her  emotions  were  somewhat  mirrored  in  her  dragon,  rhylar,  of  course,  felt  no  true  emotional  loss  for  their  deity,  though  the  sense  of  betrayal  he  feels  could  not  be  hidden  from  her,  either.  the  difference  was  most  drakes  did  not  linger  on  emotions  as  often  as  fae  did,  alt  through  their  bond,  aurora  also  senses  his  relief  as  well.  he  has  been  quite  vocal  in  his  desire  to  take  care  of  the  king  himself,  his  displeasure  of  the  high  lieges  taking  this  opportunity  for  him  equally  prominent.  in  her  own  way,  aurora  mourns  the  mother  of  dusk  -  of  what  she  had  been  once  to  all  of  her  children.  in  the  end,  she  cares  for  dusk,  for  her  home,  than  a  selfish  deity.

it  was  a  several  moments  the  blond  emissary  sat  in  the  tea  parlor,  being  pulled  out  of  her  thoughts  when  the  she  door  open  and  close  a  few  times  causing  her  gaze  to  move  to  familiar  face.  "i  insist  you  join  me.  i  will  ring  for  new  tea  as  this  is  has  become  cold."  iced  tea  was  also  a  popular  drink,  it  seemed,  but  she's  certain  it  was  made  cold  intentionally,  not  hot  tea  sat  for  minutes  on  end.

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier wasn't heartbroken at the loss of their king. But he wasn't happy that even with that loss, they were still stuck in Summer. He was going to do his best to make the most of it, but he wasn't happy about it. He decided a stroll was in order. Normally, he avoided the water, but he could appreciate the calmness it seemed to bring others and decided he would try to appreciate the sound of the waves lapping against the sand as he walked, on the edge farthest from the water. He hadn't noticed the Summer Lord when he approached until he had heard him speak. "Oh yes, it is so tough to be home and have to share it with others who can't leave." He replied, lacking any sympathy for the other.

╰ ♡ open starter for @rosaxseer | @brckenrctual | @ofcourtfablesarchive | anyone

╰   ♡   sharing   his   court   with   all   of   prythian   was   still   something   that   he   was   growing   used   to,   not   that   he   had   wanted   to   actually   do   just   that.   it   felt   as   though   every   where   the   summer   lord   turned   there   was   another   fae   right   under   his   toes.   more   of   them   occupying   the   castle   than   he   had   ever   remotely   seen   in   the   past.   wanting   to   find   private   space,   a   moment   to   just   be   alone   had   been   thwarted   once   again.   his   attention   alerted   at   the   sound   of   footsteps   in   the   wet   sand   behind   him.   turning   to   face   the   other,   he   sighed.   ❝   i   don't   know   that   i   can   grow   used   to   having   so   many   fae   in   the   summer   court.   ❞

[crxssdhearts]

@liuyan @brckenrctual (your choice)

Xavier cursed under his breath as the wave crashed higher than expected, drenching the side of his leg and soaking the hem of his tunic in a cold slap of seawater. He stumbled back a step, arms slightly out as if offended by the betrayal, blinking down at the spreading wet patch with narrowed eyes. “Oh, come on,” he muttered, glaring out at the gently foaming surf. “You’ve got an entire coastline and you choose me? Really? Is that how we’re doing things now?” The sea, of course, didn’t respond, at least not with words. But the next wave lapped a little closer, as if to mock him. Xavier huffed, brushing damp strands of hair from his forehead and tugging at the now-clingy fabric of his tunic, trying in vain to smooth it out with what little dignity he had left.

He was mid-mutter, something about saltwater having a vendetta, when he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Someone was approaching, and not at a distance where he could pretend he hadn’t just been having a one-sided argument with the ocean. Immediately, Xavier straightened, pushing a hand through his curls with practiced ease and slipping back into his signature smile, charming with just the right touch of roguish exasperation. “Ah, perfect timing,” he called lightly, gesturing toward the sea behind him. “You’re just in time to witness my long-standing rivalry with the ocean reach its latest dramatic chapter. I swear, it knows.” He gave a half laugh, eyes gleaming.

[crxssdhearts]

@slivertm, @liuyan @ethercvl (whoever you want)

Kael moved through the garden with quiet steps, the hush of twilight wrapping the Summer Court in a rare stillness. Blossoms leaned heavy on their stems, glowing faintly in the fading light, and the breeze carried the sharp-sweet scent of jasmine and sea salt. He hadn’t meant to wander this far, hejust needed air, something outside the press of voices and heat inside the palace. His hand trailed along a low stone wall, fingers brushing warm stone, when he rounded a corner and stopped short.

Someone was already there, half-shadowed beneath the arch of flowering vines. Kael didn’t recognize them they appeared to be just a silhouette in the soft gold of evening. He straightened slightly, taking a respectful step back. “Apologies,” he said, voice low but clear, not wanting to startle them. “I didn’t realize anyone else was here. I can go, f you wanted the space to yourself.” There was no tension in his posture, only calm readiness, and his guard was held close but not raised. The Summer Court had a habit of catching him off guard, and Kael was learning how to navigate it.

[crxssdhearts]

@ethercvl Gaeul

Xavier spotted her the moment he entered the dining hall, Gaeul, his High Lady, seated in the eastern corner beneath the long sweep of draped windows. The sun had slipped low enough to cast warm gold across her table. Most would have hesitated to interrupt her solitude, but Xavier didn’t. With a bottle of wine swinging casually in one hand and only the faintest trace of a scowl behind his eyes, he made his way over. The usual lilt in his stride was a bit off today, not quite as smooth, the result of a very public near-disaster involving one of the Summer Court’s cursed fountains and a stone step that came out of nowhere. Still, he slid into the seat across from her without waiting for an invitation, setting the bottle down.

He didn’t speak, he let the quiet settle between them as he unscrewed the cork with the practiced ease of someone who considered wine a survival tactic. Finally, with a faint breath of a chuckle that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he muttered, “If I don’t get out of this sun-drenched paradise soon, I might just start wilting.” There was a smile in his voice, but it lacked its usual bite, soured slightly by fatigue and humidity. He poured a glass for each of them “I don’t have anything useful to report, unless you count how many fountains are trying to kill me or the thorn bush that caught me and almost required stitching." He sighed. "I have nothing positive to report of this dreadful place.” He took a long drink of his glass.

[crxssdhearts]

@shvdwscng (Hale)

Cillian didn’t knock. He never did with Hale. The door creaked open under, the hinges groaning faintly against the weight of the Summer air, and he stepped inside with the ease of someone who didn’t need permission. In one hand, he held a dark green bottle of wine, already uncorked, the scent of something rich and earthy drifting up as he crossed the threshold. His shoulders, always squared in public, looked a little less rigid here. Still pulled tight, but not locked in the armor he wore around the others. Behind him, the corridor buzzed faintly with conversation and distant music, but Cillian shut the door with a soft thud.

He found Hale near the open window, where the breeze flowed lazily at the curtains. “If we're going to pretend everything's fine, at least let us be drunk while we do it,” Cillian said dryly, holding the bottle up in offering before settling into the nearest chair. His expression was unreadable, as always, but anyone who truly looked at him could see the tension in the way he rolled his neck, the slight crease at his brow, the way his fingers tapped the neck of the bottle like he was counting heartbeats. “They’re still dancing around the real issues. Acting like diplomacy’s going to untangle what the King’s already twisted into this place.” He exhaled sharply, then forced a small, tired smile. “But tell me you’ve got glasses in here. I refuse to drink this like a savage.”

[crxssdhearts]

@shvdwscng (Aurora)

Kael stepped out from the arched doorway of the Summer Palace, the heavy heat of the day finally giving way to a gentler warmth that clung to his skin. The stone beneath his boots still held the sun’s kiss, but a breeze drifted in from the sea, cool, salted, and tinged with something sweet he couldn’t name. The world was quieter now, the chaos of the court dulled behind him. He was sure why his feet had carried him this far from the gathering rooms, he needed the peace and quiet that the setting sun seemed only to provide him these days. And then he saw her. Aurora, seated on the edge of the low garden wall, her silhouette outlined in amber light.

He paused, unsure if he should speak, unsure if she wanted to be seen at all, but something about her stillness pulled at him. He approached slowly, not wanting to startle her, but making no effort to hide his presence either. The crunch of gravel underfoot marked his arrival as he came to stand a few paces away. “Didn’t think anyone else would be out here,” he said quietly, eyes on the horizon as the last edge of sun dipped low. “This time of day makes me miss home the most." He said to her, a soft sadness to his voice.

[crxssdhearts]

Kael leaned against the edge of the column, the shade barely helping with the relentless warmth pressing in around them. His arms were loosely crossed, slight crease between his brows, like he was cataloging every word Karmilla said. At her last comment, Kael’s gaze shifted to the sea in the distance, its surface glittering like glass. His voice stayed calm, but there was steel beneath it. “The heat shouldn't bother me.” He didn’t say that it did, just that it shouldn’t. “What bothers me even more is how many of us are pretending to play nice while no one’s saying what they actually mean.” He looked back at her, steady and sharp. “The High Lords will posture. The generals will posture. But someone’s going to have to do something before all this pretending catches fire.” A beat. “Let’s hope that doesn’t come down to the ones lowest on the chain.”

KARMILLA shrugged, not really that invested in the thing called 'spectacles'. Unless it was a grand spectacle of things, like the stuff with Kabir, but at least that spectacle required no glass. Yet. As far as she had known. "I don't know, rope or string? Maybe they weld it to the face, who knows? I haven't seen one to know what they look like." nor she met any mortals to confirm it. It was hilarious to think about, though.

ah, that was fair.

"I don't know which one of us should be asking the questions, but it would probably be for the best for our High lord to be the one inquiring things. Or one of the commanders, they might know what to do. The general, as well. In fact, there are many High fae currently outranking us in meddling in these affairs." she softly chuckled.

the chuckle turned to a snicker.

"Please, I am one more minute spent in this blasted sun away from just dunking in the sea & not coming out until it's dark out. Though I doubt that would help much. I have a gnawing feeling it is always this hot." Karma didn't know how she'd survive this much hot air & humidity. Still, she lightly hummed. "Well, we weren't thrilled about them being in our court, either, but we made it work. I'm sure they'll keep up the pretences, if only for the appearances sake - until their king is dealt with."

[crxssdhearts]

Xavier nodded, wincing slightly as she pulled the thread tight. "Well, thank you all the same. I am Xavier, autumn court." He said with a tight smile. His eyes flicking to the glimmer of a fountain beyond the archway like it might lunge at him if he turned his back. “Used to it,” he repeated with mock reverence, swirling the drink in his hand without bothering to sip. “That's a bold assumption, considering the place is seventy percent water and ninety percent humidity.” He chuckled softly, the sound all charm and no sincerity. “But I admire your optimism. Truly. It’s brave.”

At her question, his gaze flicked back to her, “ I prefer shadows and crisp air. We're not really known for, you know,” he gestured vaguely toward the sunlit area around them, “-this.” He let that hang for a moment, then tipped his head, returning her tactic with an easy grin. “And you are? Or is this the part where you disappear like fog before I can get your name?” Xavier questioned.

“mmm,” she mused, the thread pulling tight between her fingers, listening to his words, that same faint curve of her lips. it wasn't the pain others suffered through that made her smile, but how different each person who sat in this very chair was. "ah, you don't need introductions to get help here." she skirted around the question, giving him a quick, pointed glance, and returned to the task at hand.

"and i don't know about that," a hint of laughter then escaped. "the summer court is no easy feat, but hate you? you just gotta get used to it. granted, we do all have a bit love-hate relationship with the place." she paused, a bit of hesitation. "i'm assuming coming here wasn't exactly by choice? where ya from?" evading questions, even ones as simple as asking for her name, was ysara's speciality and was often met with her shifting the conversation on to the other.

[crxssdhearts]

@rosaxseer @n1ghtsongs @arashway

Cillian sat at the end of the bar, the stem of his glass balanced between two fingers, though he hadn’t taken a sip in some time. The drink, something fruity and far too colorful for his taste, was more for show than indulgence. Around him, everyone seemed to be having a good time as the music thrummed beneath through the place. But none of it reached him. His posture was relaxed, casual even, but his eyes were sharp beneath half-lowered lashes, and every muscle in his body remained coiled, alert. He wasn’t here to enjoy himself. He was listening, waiting.

The pair seated a few stools down were talking low, but not low enough, not with Cillian's light around them. Something about shifting alliances and unsure who could be trusted. That last detail made him straighten slightly. No one mentioned the King directly—no one ever did, not in public, not if they were smart, but the weight of his influence hung in the spaces between words. Cillian’s jaw tightened, fingers drumming lightly against the glass as he sifted through tone and subtext, piecing together what little he could. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t confined to one of them. And if the others were stumbling in the dark, things were truly in a bad place. He picked up his glass taking a drink from it before sighing as he sat it back down. It didn't relieve the weight in his chest any, He rolled his neck and listened to the light again.

[crxssdhearts]

@vivianvaldemar @slivertm @shvdwscng @ethercvl

Xavier strolled through the open archways of the Summer Court palace with the kind of ease that only someone deeply uncomfortable would bother to fake. The sun spilled through stained-arches in rich golds and ambers, casting patterns on the marble floors that shimmered like flames, too bright, too cheerful, too much. Sweat beaded at the back of his neck beneath his carefully tousled curls, and somewhere in the distance, fountains babbled constantly, as if water were something to be celebrated rather than avoided. But when footsteps echoed from around the corner, Xavier straightened his spine, adjusted the cuffs of his jacket, and summoned the kind of smile that could disarm a diplomat.

“Well, well,” he purred as a familiar figure appeared, brow already arching in suspicion. “Fancy seeing you here. I was just admiring the architecture.” He leaned one shoulder against a sun-warmed pillar, tilting his head. “You know how the Summer Court loves their....openness. Hard to tell where one hall ends and the other begins.” Xavier only laughed softly, letting it trail off like a secret. “Tell you what, why don’t you point me in the right direction of the kitchen, and I’ll owe you a favor.” His grin widened. “And I promise, its a favor you will want.” He said with a small nod and a wink.

[crxssdhearts]

@brckenrctual @fcllengrace @illuminatingeclipse

The path wound downward through trees, their silver-green leaves blowing in the breeze overhead as Kael stepped carefully between green grass and soft fern. The air smelled faintly, of saltwater mixed with the hibiscus growing near by. He could hear the distant crash of waves long before he saw them, and with every step closer, the palace gave way to a horizon of soft sand and turquoise sea. When he finally emerged onto the sun-warmed sand, the brightness of it struck him, this place, this court, was nothing like the dusk court he had known all his life. The Summer Court moved in color and heat, and it was disorienting, beautiful, and a little terrifying.

Kael sank down into the sand, letting his fingers sift through the grains as if they might anchor him to something real. The sea seemed to stretch endlessly before him, sparkling under the watchful gaze of a sun that didn’t seem to wane. The Summer Court was no longer some storied place he had just learned of, it was real, and he was stuck here. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the sun wash over him. His mind calmed for the first time really since they had been dropped in this place. So calm that he didn't hear the other person approach until they were almost next to him. "Can I help you?" He asked, not looking towards them, keeping his eyes closed.

[crxssdhearts]

Everything about this place confused Kael. The water on the floor, the bright sun overhead, the lack of cool breeze, it all was foreign. He had been good back home with directions and finding where he needed to go, but here, he seemed lost all the time. So when the lady asked him for directions to the dawn chambers, he just stared at her for moment. He chuckled nervously, "I am here I promise. But I am afraid I am lost as well." He looked around the room they were currently in and unsure of where they even were. "I was trying to find my way to a kitchen, but ended up here." He said with a sigh.

open starter location: in the halls of the summer court, a few days after the arrival of everyone in the court

rosalyn had never liked unfamiliar places. not because she feared them—no, fear was too tangible, too grounded for what unsettled her. it was the in-betweenness of it all. the way walls blurred together when she wasn’t paying attention, how corridors stretched too long or bent too sharply when her mind wandered elsewhere. and now, here she was, untethered in the summer court, the salt-heavy air and golden light pressing against her senses like a too-warm embrace.

she had meant to follow the directions she had written out for herself after arriving. had even traced the path in ink over and over again in one of her journals. but now, standing in a hallway that felt like it had shifted when she wasn’t looking, rosa realized she had no idea where she was.

her skirts whispered against the polished floors as she turned in a slow, uncertain circle. no one had given her much notice so far—just another visitor drifting through the grand halls, a pale slip of a thing against the sun-kissed vibrancy of the court. but she could not keep wandering forever.

rosa exhaled, brushing a stray curl from her face, then spotted a figure just ahead. without hesitation, she crossed the space between them, light-footed and unbothered by the quick oddity of her own approach.

“pardon me.” she said, her voice lilting with its usual, airy cadence. “i seem to have misplaced myself. you wouldn’t happen to know where they’ve tucked away the dawn court chambers, would you?”

she tilted her head, gaze flickering over them like she was reading something only she could see. lingering a moment too long“or are you lost as well....or not here at all...do tell me if you arent real now, won’t you? i’d hate to be talking to nothing at all.”