bluh bluh huge ball

[thalassino]

Characters: Vatheon
Location: That Castle
Time: Evening, on Sunday
Style: Any
Status: OPEN. Threadjack, threadhop, spam away!

[ Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen of Vatheon— whatever your newfound stature may be, Prince, Princess, Knight, or Peasant, you will all receive a message on your SFC on the eve of Saturday regardless:

You are cordially invited to the castle for this evening's ball. In addition, you are all welcome to try and solve the riddle if it fancies you. It just may break the curse!

The invitation is unsigned, but its intentions are clear. Maybe you hadn't quite noticed the sizeable castle in the distance of the city that had sprung up, but this message would surely garner your attention toward it now.

Should you arrive at the castle, plenty of attractions await you:

Ballroom ❧ A very large and beautiful ballroom is lighted up, complete with a playing violin orchestra. While the curtains will be drawn during this event, there is a windowed view and exit on one side of the ballroom that leads to:

Smee's Rose Garden ❧ A broad and colorful spanse of a garden, complete with many paths and turns. Plenty of roses are arranged in great arches, which provide perfect little places should you need some privacy with your sweetheart. Anyone familiar will even tell you that the garden was purposefully designed for just that sort of thing.

The Riddle ❧ There is an inscription located on a noticeable plaque set in one of the garden's benches. It reads:

Two are necessary to break this curse
Riled up, upset, what kind of love?
Only this kiss will stop it from getting worse.
Look for a winged one is push comes to shove,
Look for a glance slightly dark,
Search for a pair in reluctant love.
One answers a call; that's your mark;
One longs for patria though adverse.

Dining Hall ❧ Connected to the ballroom is an extremely long hall that stretches as far as the eye can see, elegantly arranged as the dining area. Expensive and exquisite cuisine seem to be on the menu— try something new? Chances are you won't be eating from a selection such as this again anytime soon!

Dais ❧ There is a noticeable raised dais that is easily visible via any area within the ballroom. It's locked off from guests, though— what is it for...?

Do enjoy. ]

Comments

[rebull]

And I believe I said something along the lines of- [His ears perk, moving his head to follow the other as he nears him.]

"It wouldn't be that with you?" Perhaps worded differently. [Said with a slight laugh, though bitter. Summoner leans against the bars a little more, feeling them press against his back as he watches Darkleer for a moment. Again he thinks he looks strong like this, though he had always looked that way. This new form for the other troll was so fitting, it was funny that he took the form of a peasant trickster of a furbeast. Summoner's eyes glance over the bandages on Darkleer's arms and he suddenly remembers how he himself used to do something like that... bound his arms and neck with cloth. He purses his lips, putting a front paw to the ground and pushing himself up to stand on his hind legs, looking to Darkleer's face again.]

I had wings then... Doesn't it seem like so long ago? Frighting when you really think about it, heh.

[How nervous he is can't be heard in his tone, but it's obvious if you realize that his words are only those of small talk. Another sign before looking behind him to the banister. He looks up at the horizontal bar at the top of the vertical ones, and then looks back to his feet. Hmm, perhaps... not yet. Ears flick to face Darkleer again before turning his head.]

Wings... A dark glance. You know we'd be idiots not to try solving this riddle, don't you? Even if it just seems like a joke at our expense.

[aim_exorable]

It is obvious to anyone who would know us... which perhaps explains why very few could solve it.

[That would require knowing them. Darkleer, he keeps to himself well enough, and Summoner... Yes, the wings are obvious, but so few know what really lies beneath the jester's mask. Darkleer knows he counts amongst that number, and knows how important that alone is.]

I am unsure of how they expect us to carry on with this foolishness, considering your state. [A nod to the fox.] I admit I am unsure of a great many things, but I doubt you would care to hear them.

[rebull]

Please don't kid yourself. [A sigh, moving a paw to grind claws against the side of his face, through the fur there.]

You know the reason why I chose what I did, don't you?

[aim_exorable]

...I do.

[Pressing his hand against his face, Darkleer tries to keep calm. This won't hurt. He won't let it hurt. They've already done it once before, it shouldn't.]

I would not tell you whether what you did was right or wrong. It would not end well no matter our feelings on the matter.

[rebull]

Then you don't deny what feel then, just as I don't? We accept it, and realize it is something we must not let continue.

[He swallows down the feeling he gets when he sees Darkleer place a hand to his face. Summoner feels a mix of irony and sorrow at it; How he knows that he would prefer to just comfort him, pull his hand away, stop his woe, and yet, he knows he wouldn't, and well, couldn't right now anyway. His paws could barely reach Darkleer's main body from where he stood now.]

I know we could just get this over w-w... With. I know, but perhaps our last conversation, that conversation, didn't take the right course, which led to our mishaps afterwards.

[aim_exorable]

And what would be the right course, Lysunder?

[Of all things, that stirs him into a more talkative mood. Shifting his hand to just one side of his face, he smiles. It is not one of mirth, however. It's a quiet, heavy sorrow that's wound itself tight around him and will not let him find peace.]

Would you have this conversation end in us despising one another, not even wishing to talk through written word any longer lest we find ourselves sick at the very notion? Would you cut these emotions as you would something infected beyond salvation, burn it away until there is nothing but dead ground left? You truly are a foolish child to think that emotions can be dismissed so easily. Our continued encounters, even when our own memories desert us, is proof of that.

Emotions cannot be tamed like that, and so help me, but I have tried nonetheless. It's a fool's quest that cannot be completed. For all you have tried to cut me off, I cannot stop myself from feeling what I do, and even if we do not see each other for a great while, it would take just as long for those emotions to dim.

[A hollow little laugh and Darkleer finally lowers his hand to give Lysunder all of his attention.]

This traitor and coward loves you, and I doubt I will stop no matter what harsh words you use against me. For that, I can only apologize.

[rebull]

[A speech, should he have expected it? It was so hard to tell when it came to Darkleer. Sometimes it seemed like he'd rather plate his mouth shut rather than utter a single word. But Summoner listens, feeling his face grow hot as his words continue, his paws kneading into the cloth of his cloak slightly as he stands there, unable to move, not wanting to interrupt.]

[Everything the other says continues to only make him feel worse, worse...yet... better. He can't describe it. Darkleer is right, how they meet, how Summoner can't help but bother him, speak to him, he enjoys it despite Darkleer's past which he can just barely remember now. He can't help how he reaches out into the dark place Darkleer seems to hide in, wanting to stay there and remain untouched by the world. Maybe he really is drawn to the impossible? And Darkleer would have seemed so impossible at first... he did seem impossible at first.]

[A slight laugh. Funny that Summoner had to venture so deep to finally be close enough to touch him, but yes, it's fear that stops him from wanting to move the few inches further. False romance is all he knows, and all he wants to know, all he can know. It would be cruel to act on these emotions knowing he couldn't fully give to Darkleer what the other wants.]

[Summoner's eyes wandering over him and that word strikes him hard, he almost flinches. Feeling his body heat up, it's as though that word sent a shock through him and he's still listening through waves of unrecognizable sound, beating through his skull. He should say it back.]

Lay down. [Said as he steps back, his voice quiet, fangs gripping his lower lip.]

[aim_exorable]

[Signless had mentioned how neither of them admitted to anything, save for perhaps vague things. What did Darkleer expect, admitting to such a painful, open secret? He doesn't know. But a part of him is not surprised when those words are not echoed back. A troll like him doesn't deserve that star-like heart which beats and hums inside of Lysunder's chest.]

[It still hurts.]

As you wish.

[Carefully, he moves his legs until he is down against the ground, hooves beneath his large body and hands hanging uselessly at his side. He doesn't know what Lysunder has planned, and perhaps he doesn't care.]

[Anything to make this painful moment end.]

[rebull]

[Summoner stays back as Darkleer moves to lay down, and he judges the heights of either of them now. Slowly he pads over, stopping a few feet away with his tail sliding against the ground behind him.]

[Yes, that's exactly what Signless said. That's what's wrong with this.]

Your bow I would curse you know.

[He starts, moving closer again, looking up. Lysunder nears enough to reach up with a paw, just barely able to press it against Darkleer's cheek as he tilts his head up to look at him, ears sunk.]

I would damn you before I knew how you suffered from it, before I felt how you should suffer for it. And you did. You suffered hotblood lifetimes for that arrow, that arrow you probably still hold to such importance now. I doubt when I was younger I could have ever felt this way for you. Perhaps it was my naivety that would stop that... Even if back then I might have atleast allowed myself to feel this for another, be it not you, nor any highblood...

I love you, and that-

[he stops for a moment, those words making his throat tighten and his breath stop.]

-That is why I chose to try and stop our encounters. I already have a passion in my life, something that will take all I have from me. Giving you what pity I have left would be unfair to you, even if I feel seas of that red emotion when you enter my mind...

I pity the man who wishes to live in the dark, I pity the man that can't see the stars above him, who wishes to no longer know the world, and have it no longer know him. Whose bow he both loves and curses far more than any other thing, and who would rather silence rather than the heartbeat of another.

But I can't pity him enough for it to not be a waste on his part. On your part. Do you understand?

[aim_exorable]

I believe I do.

[The pads of that paw are soft against his skin, a contrast to the dull throbbing that is prevalent on his other cheek because of certain... encounters that have left their mark. Closing his eyes, he still keeps on that broken smile.]

[When he first arrived in this place, he never would have expected for this kind of relationship to develop. Back then, he is quite certain he would have wished it to not occur. But it has, and what can they do? Fight it as best they can. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working.]

[Besides, those words...]

However... Do you wish this to end in fear for the pain it would cause me, or the pain it would cause you?

[Looking into Lysunder's eyes, he sighs.]

I have been matesprit, kismesis, and auspitice to quite a few trolls in my time. I have lost partners both to death, simple disinterest, and, ultimately, my own failures. I know the pain of loss quite well but I do not regret the partners who blessed my life for even a short while. Not only would that be doing them a disservice, but... it is a wretched thing, to be alone.

[Sweeps of tagging along with his lusus into the wilds, away from the city, to just sit still and let himself fade into nothing so he could watch other beasts strife and live and grow used to his presence, staying away from the other bluebloods his age because his reputation as freakishly strong preceded him... Sweeps and sweeps of that, before the Archeradicators took him in, and even then.]

[Alone, with nothing but the world outside the city to comfort him.]

More painful than the scars loss leaves behind, I think.

So while I understand, I think it to be foolish if you are doing it for my benefit. If for yours... Then so be it. [The smile has wavered in strength, but at this, it comes back just a bit stronger.] I would not and doubtfully could not convince you of anything less. You never have taken kindly to my advice, stubborn as you are.

But whether this parting shall be for better or worse... I believe we have an obligation to uphold.

[rebull]

As weird as it is, yes.

[He tries not to think about what else is said, he can't. Summoner's knows better than to allow himself to dwell on those things. And Darkleer mentioning his previous relationships only seems to make him more uncomfortable, like he is even further from the blue blood than ever before. Quite a few? Summoner had yet to have a single one, nothing past those base desires. Maybe a part of him was terrified of something like that, something so permanent, even his war would end one day... And how it would be so much more permanent to him then it would be to Darkleer. The thought of fading into the blue blood's past is something that brings a bad taste to his mouth, and an ache into his chest.]

Down a little more then, in my reach, I can't very well fly up there, can I?

[Said with the smallest of smiles, a paw moving to tug softly on a long of white hair as he looks up, ears slumped forward. Even laying as Darkleer is, Summoner is still tilting his head up to even look at him.]

[aim_exorable]

[Fade? As if his quadrants ever fade from his mind. But then, the only other person in Vatheon who knows just how deeply Darkleer treasures his relations to other people is another young blueblood, another young centaur...]

[Shaking his head, Darkleer leans down obediently, even as he isn't quite sure how this is going to work at all.]

I should hope you have some manner of plan for this.

[rebull]

Nothing romantic, hell, what could I manage with a mouth like this? [A snicker, jerking his head forward and clamping down his fangs with a light snap, just a breath away from Darkleer's nose.]

[A sigh before he moves both his paws up to clench into hair on the either side of the other troll's face and pulls slightly, moving his head forward to place his forehead against Darkleer's, muzzle pointing down, and he just stays there for a moment. He feels the fur on his face bend and smooth while it's pressed to Darkleer's forehead.]

Thank you. [A beat, still with their forehead's touching, still gripping Darkleer's hair tight.]

And I'm sorry.

[And with that he pulls his paws away and reels his head back. Going to ignore how wet his eyes feel as he licks the tip of Darkleer's nose, chuckling and quickly going to press his lips to his before reeling back. Fast, something he can't think about for long.]