zhaoycn

[zhaoycn]

ZHOU YAN - no, it should be Lin Yan - is going to pass out on the spot. She was one more bouts of anger away from actually seeing red. The blotches of darkness in the corners of the room solidified, some of them grinning to her, some of them looking sad, the others encouraging - two faces stood out, but she blinked & they were gone. As gone as their living counterparts. She could let it go. She could - & would - let it all go & just take a very deep breath. closing her eyes Yan slowly exhaled through her nose as her brother kept speaking of Asteria & Frigoria & --

the... what?

Yanyan blinked at her brother, once, slowly. "He - " what? "What?" she frowned, fixing a dark stare to Yinuo. "He's our what now? Yixinge, our brother?" that was impossible. It was simply impossible, but... but a more gnawing thought furrowed her brows together.

"How do you know? How do you even know? How could you possibly know? We've been in Frigoria all our lives. Why would you say that?" though... hearing it spoken out loud now - it does explain her sisterly affection for the king. Oh, heavens, did he know? He didn't. For some reason, Yinuo had been the only know to know all the secrets - & sharing none with her, his sister. Though, given the rumors, given what he'd just said... had he even shared it with Yixin? Or was he going to never say it?

"Does he know?" she asked, her temper seething in her veins, one thought darker than the other passing through her mind.

"Had these... hollows had not appeared..." she quietly spoke, eyes fixed upon the one person she had trusted with her own life, trusted more than anyone - except, apparently her other brother, the bloody king!

"Were you ever going to tell me - us - about this, or were you just going to keep it a secret forever?"

yan's anger was like a knife to the chest, and he had to resist the instinct to flinch as she let loose at him. her anger was warranted, to be certain—but that didn't mean it didn't sting. it was a massive secret, and he wouldn't be surprised if his sister chose to never forgive him. even so, it would hurt. it wasn't like there was a handbook that came with being kidnapped. he had tried his best.

shoving his feelings down, yinuo took a breath, responding. "yes, i did know. and it stung not to tell you." he hesitated, about to elaborate further when yan halted with a realization. he swallowed hard. you have to tell her. now. if you don't, she'll find out on her own—and things will only get worse from there.

"…about that," he sighed, perching on the corner of a table discarded in the room. yinuo glanced up, making sure his sister met his eyes before he continued. "we are asterian, meimei. we grew up in frigoria, yes—but the blood that runs through our veins is still asterian." nearly as pure as you could get. he risked another glance at the door, hesitating. "we…you and i are related, yes. but we aren't the only ones."

yinuo sucked in a breath. "i don't know what yixin will think; i am not the king. but i feel with reasonable clarity that we won't be banished, because we—"

"…he's our brother, yan."

[zhaoycn]

SHE WOULD really appreciate that. Lady Mirena had been so helpful, always. Maybe she could really help her with it all - with these rumors & the fear that had been widespread. She was afraid as well - afraid of the uncertainty, of the strange words that had fluttered to her on phantom wind - of warnings & dead things smiling at her.

yes, she could really use lady Mirena's help.

"Would it be too much to ask it of you? I don't wish to bother you with my fears, but... It would put my mind to ease, if you'd look after Yixinge & gege for me, when I can't." Yanyan would never leave them alone, but... everything had become so uncertain.

Should something happen to her, she needs to know they'll be looked after.

They had all felt uneasy. Even Mirena with her poised appearance had felt unrest in her blood, coursing through her veins. She has been unpleasantly roused from her sleep by strange dreams, though none of them could have been called nightmares. Just oddities. Odd visions. Odd imagery.

How devoted of her. Some blood bonds really could not be broken in sentiment, even if one of unaware of the connection. Lips pull to smile, the cousin of Frigoria speaks. "I have not seen him yet, but I am sure he is well and fine. I am sure your brother is safe as well, but I can look for him if you want?"

[zhaoycn]

LADY Qynna had been right! Planned. It did feel like that, truly. But, she also raised a good question - who had planned it, who had put it together? She couldn't put her finger on it, she couldn't tell. Even if she had magic, she doubted it would tell her anything of value.

this had seemed so perfectly placed together.

"That is a good question. I don't know who would done such a thing. Perhaps it truly is a jest, since it is rehearsed & planned? Otherwise, someone would have caught wind of it before."

[zhaoycn]

location: asteria. the shared quarters. time: early evening. with: @lixln

SHOULD she tell him? Should she not tell him? How should she tell him? Or is he, maybe, like Yinuo & had already known it? It was one thing to be pissed at her elder brother, but could she be pissed at the king? Is that even allowed? Oh. Wait.

she was a princess.

That was a thought that had randomly popped into her mind ever since Yinuo had spilled all the beans he'd been carefully collecting for over two decades. Yes, she was still pissed at him, big time, but then again... she could get it. She couldn't get it why he didn't tell her sooner, but she understood the secrecy, once he'd explained everything.

but, the question remained -

how in all the gods' names is she going to tell king Yixin that she & Yinuo are his lost siblings?

This was one of those occasions where Yan would have really liked to have something to ground her, or soothe her. The shadows dancing in her peripheral, bearing odd faces, unknown faces had not been very grounding. But, it was better than nothing. Entering the common room of the Asterian private quarters, Yanyan had found the king - erm, her brother - already in the room.

should she tell him? she shouldn't. or perhaps she should. she should.

Bowing her head lightly upon entry, Yanyan approached - & felt like she was probably one loud sound away from a stroke.

"Yixinge, do you have a moment? There is something we should talk about."

[zhaoycn]

SHE HAD wondered if anyone would have blamed her if she had decked the living daylights out of her elder brother, right there on the spot. Naturally, Zhao Yan had not been much of a fighter per se - she couldn't even bring herself to slap someone, but oh boy was she being tested right now. She couldn't understand why Yinuo had never found it important enough to tell her that the blasted village they lived in had been a fucking empire!

she was so pissed she had started to internally swear. she never swore!

The Shadows in the room condensed, letting out chuckle-like hisses. Like a piece of meat being thrown into a searing hot pan. She had cast a glance their way, doubling back when she had realised they were actually visible to her, but her brother's words had quickly averted her attention from them.

"For twenty four years??" Yanyan hissed out. "You've known for practically all my life & not at one point in these twenty four years did it occur to you to tell me? Walk me through your thinking process, gege, please, because I struggle to see the reason as to why I was kept a fool thinking I was raised in a tiny little village in the outskirts of Asteria - " she paused when her gaze widened & a realisation had hit her.

"We're - we're not even Asterian, are we? Are we Frigorian? By the Gods my entire life is a lie! What will Yixinge think when he finds out? We won't be banished, will we?" she panicked.

he remains silent, letting her boil over. she is right, it's a lot to take in. especially when you realize that the person you're supposedly trusting your life with has been keeping the secret from you for...well, basically your entire life.

at her realization, yinuo swallows hard, glancing up to meet her gaze. rather than answering the accusation outright, he hesitates for a moment, nodding. "...frigoria is not a village," he repeats, confirming the fact. "it—it was a kingdom, long ago; damned to be forgotten by a curse." he pauses. "still is a kingdom, really. more of an empire now, i guess."

a minute passes before he forces himself to continue. "...it's where we grew up. and—yeah. i knew." yinuo glances back at the door—so far, so undetected. good. he hopes it stays that way. "i've known—we ended up there about..." doing some quick calculations in his head, he mumbles numbers under his breath "...twenty-four years ago?" saying the amount aloud, he cringes. it sounds worse when spoken. "...just you and me." a family split and torn, now reunited. somewhat. another thing to tell.

[zhaoycn]

---------- end interaction ----------

he smiled at that. "i think so. why else be proud of your country? it is your home." the words rang deeply true for him—he was proud of asteria. perhaps even more than frigoria—at least everything he'd heard about asteria seemed like public information. meanwhile, their own village was kept a secret from the world. it was tough to be proud when you had to hide it.

end.

[zhaoycn]

ALRIGHT? No! No, she was not alright - she had never been less alright in her entire existence! In fact, once the great annals of this day are scribbled down for future generations, her face will be painted right beside the definition of not alright. First the Frigoria in the scrolls in Sotera, then this yell! & then what were the images that flooded her mind? Frigoria! A bloody empire! Not even a kingdom - an empire. As if that wasn't enough, now this -

the three siblings of Asteria.

She had only briefly locked gaze with her brother across the room to notice it - she had managed to lightly frown, her feet already moving toward Yinuo when her brother reached her & started pulling her away from all the panic & chaos.

she felt a bit like panicking, too.

When they were finally alone, secluded enough for the shrieking of people to become a dull echo, cut off by the heavy door, did Yan turn to her brother with a wide-eyed, confused expression. "No! No, I'm bloody not alright. Frigoria isn't a village?" it was an effort not to start hyperventilating at the barrage of questions that had threatened to boil over, when she forced herself to pause & truly look at her brother -

& the expression on his face.

"You... knew, didn't you?"

location: asteria's palace time: shortly after the shrieking @zhaoycn

shit. shit, shit, shit. shit. not again. another intrusion, scheduled perfectly in order to throw the room into uproar. whoever is doing this clearly takes pleasure in timing things as poorly as possible.

the minute the shriek ends, he snaps back into action. yan. something has changed fundamentally in the room, and he needs to talk to her. before someone else does. before things get worse. before his grave gets dug any deeper.

he spots her from across the room and locks eyes for a split second, a mite too much guilt on his face. quickly, yinuo ducks his head, pushing his way through the throngs of people until he manages to get closer to her. without asking, he grabs her hand, pulling her to a side room, hallway, anywhere—something secluded, away from prying eyes...and ears. this talk is paramount; it cannot be overheard.

glancing over his shoulder one last time, he pulls the door behind him, giving them at very least the illusion of more privacy. only then does he look back at her again, attempting (unsuccessfully) to school his features from nerves to something more neutral. "...you alright?" he doesn't know where to begin.

[zhaoycn]

SHE'D RECKONED they were busier than Yan had ever been. They had kingdoms to rule, to govern & to take care of, as if they were their children. It was undoubtedly a heavy burden to carry. She lightly shrugged at his words, repeating her thought, "They do have a lot on their plate. As a simple lady, I have never been quite accustomed to doing anything aside my lady's chores. Such as playing music. I do quite enjoy learning various instruments."

what had brought her pure joy? Asteria. Because her brothers brother was there, accompanying her all the way. She had someone of great importance by hr side to rely on & in return, they could all rely on her, as well.

just not her power as she held none, yet. she had wondered if it'd ever manifest.

"Well, I suppose I could go travelling around Asteria. I quite love it. The people are wonderful & so is our king. I think I should be happy, making my rounds around their villages, perhaps even explore the scenery & hidden caves." she mused, but then her gaze widened at the... intruder. She wasn't sure if it was polite to say anything, but she did end up lightly tapping at her eye, mirroring the one he lacked.

"Uh... you have a visitor."

   Him and his mouth. He shouldn't have discussed opiates to begin with… the lady seemed troubled. Time to change the subject.

   "Queens and princesses, you say?" Cefin echoed, his intrigue settling into a subtle smile. He had sisters, yes. One a ruler, the other an explorer – both have been explorers. Much like himself, in their own ways – actions dictated by the powers of the continent.

   Yet to speak of them was to reveal too much.

   "I have been fortunate to know women of great wisdom and ambition." A truth carefully phrased. "But it is never too late to map out a destination, lady Yan. Nothing grand, start with somewhere small… For your first location: a place that brings you pure joy?"

   His gaze relaxed, bemusement creeping in. Perhaps at her curiosity, or perhaps at how long it took to realize the sensation of something crawling atop his head. The praying mantis perched on his eyepatch. Its spindly limbs balanced as though claiming dominion over his vision.

   He remained blissfully unaware.

[zhaoycn]

SHE CHUCKLED at her brother's words. It was night to know he had agreed with her & it wasn't just her own thinking. Sometimes, for a strange reason, it was hard to be objective - she took everything happening to Asteria ( or potentially happening to Asteria ), very seriously.

but, she wouldn't think about why is that. perhaps because it had been her home.

"Aiya, don't worry gege, I'm very careful of what I tell the Soterans. I'd never let them hear my true opinion on it, it's not polite. I believe everyone is glorifying their own home, it's only natural we feel that way, isn't it?"

the only two kingdoms of our world. he ducked his head, hiding his face for only a moment before looking back up at her. one day, he would be able to tell her. one day, he would figure out what happened and why, and they would be out of danger, and he could explain everything. until then, yinuo could only hope his sister wouldn't hate him too much when that time inevitably came.

"i agree, meimei," was all he said, smiling. and it was the truth. the marriage seemed pointless to him; he didn't understand its purpose at all. especially if it wasn't yixin or his betrothed that had suggested it in the first place. why would a marriage be the thing to bring the two unruly, uneasy kingdoms together, anyway? surely there had to be better ways to do that.

at yan's reply, he laughed outright, shaking his head. "not at all," yinuo chuckled. "i mean, certainly, you know a fine thing when you see one. clearly we are superior on both fronts. just don't let the soterans catch you saying that," he grinned.

a small voice in the back of his head asked him if he was talking about asteria or frigoria. he did his best to ignore it.

[zhaoycn]

---------- end interaction ----------

HER FOCUS had been elsewhere, indeed. The courtly affairs, the practices, the studying for exams she was never to take - as no one could quite rate or grade a lady in waiting's aptitude to wait on an non-existing lady, to be frank. It had all been weighing down on her lately. What had she been training for, then? If the king ends up not marrying the princess of Sotera, would that not be a waste of her talent, her education to be the lady of court? But, then again... she doesn't think the princess Sabrina is the right choice for the king her brother. She really couldn't say why she felt like that, but she did.

But, then another king had appeared, speaking of another queen & Zhao Yan found herself deeply frowning, completely overhearing the lady Bi's words of her own ancestry. Yanyan's frown further deepened, then, at the sudden slip to her left, she had turned to see lady Bi swaying lightly on her feet. Not quite falling, but her balance had felt off kilter.

"Lady Be, are you quite alright? Have you seen something disturbing?"

[zhaoycn]

LADY Qynna had been right! Planned. It did feel like that, truly. But, she also raised a good question - who had planned it, who had put it together? She couldn't put her finger on it, she couldn't tell. Even if she had magic, she doubted it would tell her anything of value.

this had seemed so perfectly placed together.

"That is a good question. I don't know who would done such a thing. Perhaps it truly is a jest, since it is rehearsed & planned? Otherwise, someone would have caught wind of it before."

"i don't know about rehearsed, but it certainly seemed..." she floundered for a better word to get across what she was thinking. "...planned!" she finally landed on, offering lady zhao a smile. yan was right: there's no way anyone could have pulled off the events last night without some kind of preparation.

"i...guess it depends on who put it together, y'know? the soterans have known about the party for a while, so. that would make sense." but somehow, the twisting in her gut didn't agree.

[zhaoycn]

SHE'D NEVER abandon him to be alone in Sotera, just like she would never abandon Yinuo to his devices. It was out of the question. She had figured their diplomatic stay would probably drag on, but this was... a rather unusual situation. Perhaps even potentially threatening. The shadows that had slithered in the corner of the room had seemed to have dispersed, even if for a moment.

Yanyan clicked her tongue, lightly frowning. "That is nonsense, I'd never leave you here alone, Yixinge. That is exactly what I'm saying. Something about this whole place seems so off." she sighed, but nodded as he spoke of the nightmares. Yes, yes, exactly! They feel so... wrong.

well, all nightmares feel wrong - that's why they're called nightmares.

But, this... it was unnatural. Not even unusual. Unnatural. "I don't have doubt in our strength, or better said I wouldn't have doubt in our strength, but if these nightmares keep depriving us of sleep, I fear our health might take turn for the worse. & then whoever, or whatever, is pulling these strings, could have us ripe for the picking."

the shadows had seemed to have agreed.

Yixin felt the exact same way. The halls of his home in Sotera had never given him much comfort - too cold, and they carried too much weight. But still, he longed for them, for a sense of normality and simplicity.

"It may be some time yet before we can return," he said honestly. "The circumstances have changed. If you wish to return a little sooner, Yanmei, I am sure I can try to make it happen." He hoped it didn't show that he didn't want that. Yan was one of the only ones here he trusted; and it wasn't like she wielded much power to assist or help him, but still, it was a comfort.

"I agree. The nightmares do not feel like typical nightmares. As if... they do not come from within." It was unsettling, and once again he berated himself for leaving his dreams, instead of remaining to try and learn more. But that had been his choice, and now he must make the most of it.

Because he was not going to try and return to that sleep.

"But we will try not to give in to that fear. Things could very well be within our control; we don't know yet, so let's assume that we're strong enough to handle it, yes?"

[zhaoycn]

SHE KNEW her brother would agree with her - he had been wise &, perhaps even more so than she had been. She beamed, her smile widening at his words & she nodded. "That's what I've been thinking! Those customs are so outdated, are they not? I mean, between the only two of our kingdoms in this world, are such things even necessary anymore? There are other way to uphold the peace."

like, not having strange jesters perform at a queen's coronation.

Yanyan humpfed, pouting at his jab, but she found herself chuckling nonetheless. "I'm not preferring quantity, smarty. I'm just saying that when it comes to our décor & generally everything else about Asteria, we are far more in quality then they are. & in quantity. Are you implying we lack in either quality or quantity?" she teased back.

words that would, in another life, probably be fit of a princess of the kingdom.

he nodded along to her thoughts. wise words; nothing less than what he expected. yan was wise, certainly in ways he himself was absolutely not. this being one of them. so when she turned the question back on him, he tried to ignore the way his heart clutched and instead chuckled. "no, in fact, i agree with you. to me, it makes no sense to tie yourself so permanently to someone you don't know. doesn't matter if it's for the good of the kingdoms. and king or no," he added hastily, shrugging. "he should still get a say, at the very least."

yinuo laughed at her summary, shaking his head. "so it's quantity over quality for you? is it like that with everything?" he let out a tsk, mocking disappointment. "ai, come on, meimei. i raised you better than that," he teased. "it's true; the real reason for the marriage: more fountains. i'm afraid you've cracked the code."

[zhaoycn]

THEY had seemed to be something of an anomaly, then. Since no one could quite pinpoint them, then they must be a novelty of some sort. But to what extent, to what reason? To simply frighten them all? Was that not a bit strange or wicked? Why would anyone do such a thing?

she couldn't say.

"It seems awfully random for it to be a first time. Even if they have just... thought of this out of the blue, they wouldn't have been so well coordinated, would they? It seems rehearsed to at least some extent, wouldn't you agree?"

she nodded almost absentmindedly at the lady yan's words; listening and letting them percolate in her mind. it felt to her as though the bards would be featuring in people's dreams for a while. "yes, similar here. they were eerie, yes—a good word for it." truthfully, they had freaked her out personally beyond belief. but somehow she felt that wasn't something to mention right now.

qynna cocked her head at the question. "um...i'm not sure! i've...never seen anything like it before, if i'm being honest. but who knows? i mean, there's a first time for everything, y'know?" she was being very polite.

[zhaoycn]

HER FOCUS had been elsewhere, indeed. The courtly affairs, the practices, the studying for exams she was never to take - as no one could quite rate or grade a lady in waiting's aptitude to wait on an non-existing lady, to be frank. It had all been weighing down on her lately. What had she been training for, then? If the king ends up not marrying the princess of Sotera, would that not be a waste of her talent, her education to be the lady of court? But, then again... she doesn't think the princess Sabrina is the right choice for the king her brother. She really couldn't say why she felt like that, but she did.

But, then another king had appeared, speaking of another queen & Zhao Yan found herself deeply frowning, completely overhearing the lady Bi's words of her own ancestry. Yanyan's frown further deepened, then, at the sudden slip to her left, she had turned to see lady Bi swaying lightly on her feet. Not quite falling, but her balance had felt off kilter.

"Lady Be, are you quite alright? Have you seen something disturbing?"

   Yes. Something odd, something unseen among them.

   Chills.

   Instead, Jiao Bi focused on the sway of their sleeves. Hand-in-hand. An endearment reserved for her sisters – odd to be beside someone who wasn't them. She glanced at the candles, her eyes seemed to sparkle. Through Lady Yan's recounting of childhood, she could not help but feel distant yet uncomfortably nostalgic, reconsidering a concept she rarely entertained: loneliness. She had heard the staff describe their household as desolate, but the Shihs kept it well-arranged and inhabited. Everyone, even her brother. Shouldn't Lady Yan have felt the same? Wasn't one sibling enough?

   Her initial thought, that Lady Yan simply needed recalibration, seemed unsatisfactory. Riddles? Mysteries? Quite the discovery she made today. Had the Lady truly abandoned them? Perhaps time must be set aside for the two of them. It'd certainly be better than vanities versified by scholars about ladies, old rulers, and the court.

   “Lost sparks, Lady Yan. I believe you have…” She hesitated. Wasted was too harsh a description. “...set your focus elsewhere. Tired minds often seek distraction, but yours seems too sharp to be so easily dulled.”

   Was that how it worked? How should she know? She had the privilege to do as she pleased. Had she taken this for granted? The thought unsettled her, not out of regret, but because it left her with nothing to offer the Lady in return.

   At a loss for words. She felt… empty, but she turned to speak, “in the northern regions, Lady Yan –”

   Then the tremor ran by anew. Blue, red for crooked smiles. Silver grin. A wooden dummy atop wood. Crow costumes.

   A King of Hollows.

   And a Queen of Sorrows.

   Then flames to ashes.

   Most curious indeed, yet she felt something slip away from her.

[zhaoycn]

LADY MIRENA had been right, of course. No nightmare could last forever, not even the one spun by magic users. They would deplete their strength within hours, if they were of the more potent sort. Not like she would know - she had no potency in her veins to begin with. Though, something... odd had been stirring.

but, lady Mirena had been right.

"You are right, nothing shall last forever, good or bad. I simply feel... well, uneasy by the last night's event. Have you seen his Majesty? I fear how this might impact him. & my brother, Yinuo. I am not worried for myself, for some reason I am not as terrified of the jesters as one might think."

no, she truly wasn't. she was terrified of the things that hid in the corners of the room, staring at her with dead eyes.

"Oh, quite unwell like the rest of our court." dark gaze turns tired, false expression she mastered decades ago. She is intrigued by lady Yan. The possible heir to the throne of Asteria, should something foul befall her elder siblings, was a sweet lady. Softness doesn't grace her bones, but even she admits the radiance of the young princess. Would she despise her if she knew? Would she be deliciously angry with her? Is she as meek as her mother, the late queen, or as benevolent as the late king, her father?

"It will be better. Bad dreams do not last forever." Mirena reassures. They could last forever if spun by Frigoria's nightmare master. If the queen orders.

[zhaoycn]

location: sotera, the library.

time: 3 am., February 15th.

task 001 for ruinations plot drop 001.

THIS was not happening. She wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but these... shadows in the corner of her peripheral certainly didn't. Was it her power awakening? The bits & pieces of ghosts from ancient past coming to haunt her days?

she couldn't say.

Something had stirred within her bones, her veins, in her heart - the lost siblings of Asteria. She had heard it as a whisper, but it haunted her. Intangible thing that had threatened to turn solid, faces that had resurfaced from a memory veiled in mist & shadow & darkness. She had been so... young. Untrained & untried, left in the village all alone, with only her elder brother, their parents & strange, eerie neighbours for companions.

her head will splinter!

She couldn't sleep, bothered by the figures in the corner of her room, a familiar, creepy grin that turned from the Thorned King into someone she had known, but now couldn't recall. Waking up with a jolt had made sure she would not sleep a wink in the following hours, so she had found herself venturing to the library in the very dead of the night.

Yan pulled out the first tome that came under her hand, before venturing to sit in one of the more illuminated booths - opening the book & flipping to it, until red & gold ink captured her attention.

'The kingdom of Frigoria had long been ruled by a blood thirsty, cruel line, the one which had dabbed in the most unholy of magic - their coat of arms' the handwriting turned illegible, spilled ink obscuring the rest of the parchment from knowledge.

Frigoria? Kingdom? Not the... not the village she had grown up in with Yinuo, but a kingdom?

what was going on? what was going on, what --

Yinuo would know. He has to. Her brother had always been the most reliable person in her life, he must know. But, a thought gnaws at her marrow, a damning sort of idea, a painful realization that even if Nuonuo had answers, it might be something she wasn't ready to hear.

But, she had felt something awakening in her veins - & with it, a question arose, followed by fragments of images, of feelings, she could not prevent or control.

who is she?