how is this the way the story goes?

[TARI&LUC]

♦ Perhaps it was nostalgia that brought her here. The muffle of her steps on the pine needles was a sound she hadn't heard in years - since before she was crowned Queen. Though she had once spent more time in the forest than in her own room, that had all changed since her capture by the Vindicators. It wasn't fear, exactly, that kept her away. She couldn't quite put her finger on the reason... But she also did not care enough to figure it out. The thought caused a playful smile to tug at her lips. Lucious would scold me for that. ♦ Alatariel walked slowly, without purpose, through the thin undergrowth, embraced by the morning chill in the air. Today was to be a busy day, the Chamberlain had warned her. Strange how, despite that, she had felt the sudden urge today to wander away from the hustle and bustle of the castle. Strange indeed... Even Alatariel's thoughts were sarcastic - not a single Silver who knew her would be surprised by this turn of events. But what would you expect from someone who looked like nothing more than a moody teenager ruling at the most powerful position in all the kingdom? She had grown a lot in the past couple years, yes, but she was still young by any standards. One could let pass the occasional whimsical frolic away from her duties? She certainly hoped the Barons she had planned to meet with were so forgiving. ♦ The young Queen stopped at a fallen trunk and found herself sitting down with a heavy sigh, her violet eyes cast up at the early fog that had yet to dissipate into the sky. The silence was calming. Perhaps after a brief rest she'd wander back to the castle, before anyone got too frantic looking for her. Perhaps.

WORDS 303 TAGGED anyone! NOTES it feels so strange, but i'm so happy to be back :')

[nakia]

The heavy scent of fresh, woodsy pine filtered through Nakia's olfactory sense with every breath she took. She had arrived in the forest in the early morning, far before the sun began to rise over the horizon, and was now making her way back to her home. That being her apothecary of course. The bundle in her basket the reason for her early departure; pine cones, pine needles, and of course bark from the trees. A few jars that contained sap from the trees were mingled in as well. The Silver had risen early to collect the needed items for her scented oils, the pine cones and needles could easily be crushed into a fine powder which was what she needed. 

Collecting the items was easy enough, seeing as how the forest was literally littered with everything she needed. The rest of her time spent was just for herself, a nice relaxing stroll she desperately needed to clear her head. Now though, it was time to make her way back. Tilting her head to the side, Nakia felt the sharp pop and a sigh tore passed her lips as the pressure there released. 

Up ahead of her, Nakia could make out the site of a fallen tree, the trunk laying horizonal in her path way. But what really caught her attention was the upper portion of another leaning back against it. Black hair being all she could see as Nakia approached from behind. Coming up closer and moving off to the side, the female Silver made her away around the trunk and upon realizing just who exactly was resting there caused her to stop completely.  Sharp green eyes lowered away from the Queen as Nakia quickly sank into a low courtesy, her lithe form staying just so until given leave to rise, "Good morrow, my Queen."

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NOTES i believe this is the first time these two are posting together! I hope this is ok ~ side note, i gotta figure out how to fix my template lol

[TARI&LUC]

♦ A few minutes passed in silence, Alatariel staring wistfully into the distance. She tried not to think about the state of things too deeply, choosing to ignore the fact that she now answered to no one, that suddenly she was in charge of everything - before the weight of such responsibility fulfilled its threat to bury her in stress. "Ignore" was a bit strong, for you couldn't turn away from such responsibilities for long before someone came chasing after you to make some kind of decision for them. However, anyone outside the Eastern packs probably did, indeed, believe she was ignoring them. Alatariel was slowly learning what it meant to be Queen and that was her next big step: for her rule to have more far-reaching effects into the rest of the kingdom. One step at a time... The other packs had lived for centuries forgotten by the Silvers, surely a few more years of that wouldn't matter? ♦ Alatariel tensed instinctively, caught by surprise. The young ruler had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed her company until she was bowing in front of her. The greeting was as stiff as the woman's formal gesture, which she continued to hold - Alatariel realized too late that she was waiting for her to respond. "Hello. Um, you can get up..." Even though she had grown up being treated no differently, she had never quite enjoyed such formalities, especially when it was coming from those older and more experienced than she. ♦ She breathed a light sigh. Guess my time is up. Alatariel heaved herself onto her feet and brushed off the green moss from her jet-black pants. The casual attire just emphasized the fact that she hadn't been planning to run into anybody this morning. Eyes narrowing as she peered at the other woman, Alatariel searched her memory in vain for a name. "Sorry but, your name is?" Hopefully the other woman was aware of how uncouth her Queen was and wouldn't find her too rude. She had certainly gotten in trouble for it in the past, in spite of her Morphling guard's attempts to teach her grace.

WORDS 356 TAGGED nakia NOTES sorry, whenever I play her I can't help the stream of consciousness... I'm happy to help fix your template if you need help!

[nakia]

With her eyes downward, the elder female did not notice how tense Alatariel became; but she could feel it. Now that she was within short distance of the Queen, Nakia couldn't help but feel the emotions rolling off her. Perhaps she had overstepped? The last time Nakia had met the young Queen was the day of her coronation and even then the meeting had been very brief. The only true noble Silver the alchemist knew on a near daily basis was with her apprentice, Jocelyn. 

Hearing the Queen's voice to rise, Nakia shifted to stand upright while raising her eyes. With the young baroness Nakia knew exactly how she could act around her, within reason, but not Alatariel. Not only was she higher ranking than the baroness, but she was the Queen now. At the question regarding her name Nakia took no offense to it. She wasn't nobility after all. "My name is Nakia Hale, your grace," glancing down at the spot the other female was she added on, "I apologize if I interrupted your time to yourself, your grace. Normally when I come out around this time I find the rare mouse-deer or a few Morphlings. Not the Queen herself." 

The unease, or perhaps awkwardness, was noticeable in the younger Silver but Nakia merely offered a small smile towards her, keeping her own body relaxed and lose as she shifted her basket from one arm to the other. Nakia had made sure to keep her voice light, not wanting the young noble to take offense to her words. Upsetting or worse, offending, her was the last thing Nakia wanted. 

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NOTES: ooo if you could, i would seriously appreciate it! but no rush at all. or if you could show me how to do it, i'd love to learn. thank you so much 

[TARI&LUC]

♦ When the other Silver spoke her name, Alatariel tried her best to commit it to memory. "Nakia..." she mumbled. If she was going to spend all her time shirking her duties, the least she could do was learn who exactly she was supposed to be ruling over. And to be truly honest, it wasn't like she had many friends, or even acquaintances - best to seize the opportunity when it presented itself, otherwise if she were ever in trouble she would have literally no one to call on. The thought sent a small shiver through her spine; she had, after all, been held hostage once already. ♦ Alatariel was shaking her head before the apology had even finished. "Don't worry, you're hardly interrupting anything important." She looked away, finding the air between them a bit too heavy for comfort. Came with the territory, didn't it? Being Queen. Back when she was just the Royal Heir she could still imagine herself merely a child; that fantasy had dissipated the instant she was crowned. It made her uncomfortable to have everyone walking on glass in her presence. ♦ Nakia's fidgeting caused her gaze to flick back to the woman. "I wasn't exactly expecting to find anyone else either," she muttered, peering into the basket. Pine cones? What an odd thing to collect. Hoping to avoid any awkward silences, she took the chance to venture a question. "...Decorations?" she asked, gesturing at the basket. "Couldn't you just get a Morphling to find some? Better than coming all the way out here by yourself." Having been born royalty, it didn't really occur to her that not everyone had servants waiting on them hand and foot.

WORDS 277 TAGGED nakia NOTES tari, your privilege is showing xD i'm not sure how your table originally looked, is this better? (i just added a background color) do you have copies of the pictures without the watermark?

[nakia]

Shoulders instantly relaxed at the Queen's denial at being interrupted. That was one of the last things Nakia ever wanted to do to anyone, regardless of their rank or species. She herself enjoyed her time to herself and felt annoyance when someone intruded in her time of peace and quiet. She spent enough time socializing and being in her shop that when she had those precious moments to herself, she took them. The elder female couldn't imagine the life of being a royal, let alone what Alatariel experienced on a daily basis. 

Nakia did not envy her though, she quiet liked her way of life. 

Glancing down at the items in question, the brunette grinned as she raised her eyes back up, "Not exactly, your grace." Granted once everything was crushed up, bottled up and put into place, perhaps they could then be considered decorative. Lowering her arm so that the younger Silver could see the rest of her items. "I own an apothecary on the main road in Acedia Hollow, and while I could have asked a Morphling to come out to collect these, I just wanted to enjoy the morning walk." 

There were a few Morphlings that Nakia knew well and who had offered their help many times. While she did take up their offer from time to time, the female liked to do things on her own. Call it her pride stepping up but the shop was hers. She had spent her youth apprenticing there before buying it from her mentor to make it her own. But...speaking of Morphlings...green eyes glanced around their immediate surroundings before returning back to the Queen. "Is Lucious near by, your grace?" Nakia knew the admiral Morphling kept close to the young Silver, even before she was crowned as Queen. 

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TAG;TARI&LUC

NOTES: I love the update!! Thank you so much! I sadly don't have the photos that were used in this template (they were on my old tablet before it completely broke on me and I can't recover anything from it I'll probably end up trying to make a new one down the road

[TARI&LUC]

♦ She raised a brow at the response. "An apothecary, huh? I'm afraid I don't spend a lot of time down in Acedia Hollow." The Queen leaned over to pick up a smooth-looking rock, tossing it between her hands in what may be perceived to be boredom but was actually more to blow off the anxiety of being around people again. "Get a lot of visitors there?" she asked offhandedly. In fact, Alatariel had only strolled among the many establishments of the shopping district a handful of times. She tended not to spend much time in public, for even when in disguise her identity was quick to be found out. And then starts all the staring, and the bowing, and the "your Grace"s. She didn't have the patience for it all. Hence, all the time she used to spend in the forest. Giving it a moment's thought, she frowned. "What exactly does an apothecary sell?" She glanced at the basket again. These things? she wondered, doubtful that such litter of the forest could really be turned into something worth selling. ♦ She stopped tossing the rock, eyes narrowing. Lucious... "Possibly," she grumbled. Despite her best efforts, she was rarely able to avoid her Guard for long. Alatariel took the opportunity to use her powers to examine the surrounding forest; her specialty was vision, after all, and it came in handy at times like this. Violet eyes flashed white, and in a moment she was able to confirm his absence. "Well, looks like my luck hasn't run out just yet." How long would that last, though? The mist was lifting from the forest floor, slats of sunlight starting to filter through the treetops. It was only a matter of time.

WORDS 286 TAGGED nakia NOTES Celest taught me a trick for photobucket photos! right-click and open them in a new tab, and the watermark disappears! you can take a screenshot and cut around the original picture, the quality isn't always the best but it's better than nothing

[nakia]

It didn't surprise Nakia all that much on Alatariel's response on Acedia Hollow. How many times had she seen the previous King and Queen out there? Never. The only royal Silver she saw on a near daily basis was the young baroness and that was because she was her apprentice at the shop. She could still remember when the blonde Silver had walked into her shop after answering a flyer she had posted just a few years ago. The surprise that someone of her ranking would want to become an apprentice, let alone hers. Watching the rock being tossed between the other female's hands, she felt the twinge of emotion that rolled off the royal. At the question regarding visitors, Nakia gave a slight nod, "I do, your grace."

But at the further inquiry about her shop, the brunette offered a genuine, and very rare, smile. And for a moment she forgot exactly who it was she was talking to, "A variety of items. From scented oils and soaps, minerals, herbs, medicine, antidotes, and metals are some of what I sell. The items in my basket," tilting said item, "Will be crushed into fine powder to be used in an experiment for a new scent I'd like to try. The pine sap helps treat burns and helps take the stinging pain away once applied." As she spoke, there was no denying the pride she took as she smoothly explained a bit more on what she sold at her shop. It was rare when Nakia actually got to talk about her work, but it was her pride and joy and something that was completely hers.

As she trailed off, she remembered just who it was she was rambling to. She didn't feel ashamed though or nervous, there was no valid reason to feel that way. Tilting her head to the side ever so, Nakia offered to her Queen, "If you'd like, your grace, I could have some items sent to you to sample." She kept her tone light and calm, the offer sincere and would take no offense if it was turned down.

So the Queen's Guard was not around after all...but her tone caused a brow to raise slightly. She herself could never imagine having someone constantly watching over her, for she valued her personal space far too much. Glancing off to the side, Nakia lowered her voice just a touch as she asked, "I don't mean to pry...but are you alright, your grace?" Being an empath she could literally feel what others felt, but she still wanted to ask.

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NOTES: oo i missed this so much!

[TARI&LUC]

♦ Nakia's explanation of what she does displayed her love for the job in radiant colors. She clearly enjoyed what she did, and getting a chance to talk about it seemed to have made her quite happy - however, it gave Alatariel a twinge of jealousy. Must be nice to do something that makes you so proud, she thought. Honestly, she had never really made anything before; what was it like to hold in your hands the pieces of something that you would mold together into a finished product that you could call your own... She blew off the thought as quick as it had arrived. I'd probably suck at it. One needs patience to create, and that was still something that she was in short supply of. Maybe she would just drop by Nakia's store sometime and enjoy her crafts instead. ♦ At that very moment, the woman offered her just that. Tari was used to receiving gifts from strangers trying to cozy up to royalty, but she sensed no flattery this time. It was just a genuine suggestion for satisfying the Queen's curiosity. "How could I refuse," she responded playfully. She was truly grateful to have run into someone who wasn't yet another toady or who cowered in her presence - Nakia let her simply be. How refreshing. ♦ "I don't mean to pry..." Her first reaction was to tense up, but Alatariel fought back the discomfort. Nothing Nakia had done or said so far indicated that she meant anything contrary to her words, there was no need to put up walls the moment someone asked a question. The young Queen fumbled around with her rock again and finally let out a sigh. "Bit of a loaded question. No, I'm not - but then, who really is?" She paced a few steps away, frowning. "I'm not on the best of terms with Lucious. He hasn't exactly been great at his job these past few years, if you know what I mean." What was a guard good for if they couldn't guard someone from being taken hostage?

WORDS 343 TAGGED nakia NOTES you fixed the pictures on your table!! yay :D

[nakia]

It wasn't often Nakia felt passionate to speak about her shop to another. Most Silvers knew of her shop, even from before it became hers and was still run by Nani. The last time she had to fully explained what went on there was when a young blonde baroness appeared at her door answering her apprenticeship flyer. The royal had surprised her yet there was no doubt that Nakia was very proud of the progress Jocelyn had made since then. 

So it was needless to say, that for Nakia to be able to talk to another Silver about her shop and what she did, she showed her passion for it. Not to just any Silver, not to just any royal; but to the Queen herself. And Nakia felt truly honored and humbled to be  able to do so.  Not only that, but genuinely happy to be able to provide answers that were asked in pure curiosity. 

That feeling increased even more at Alatariel's response to her offer. Her mind already thumbing through what she could send, going through her inventory and what scents the royal would enjoy. Raising a slender eyebrow, Nakia couldn't stop the sly grin that crossed her lips, "You could, you are the Queen after all," her tone was just as playful as the other females. The elder Silver didn't say it, but she could feel what Alatariel felt at that moment. The emotion strong enough and the distance between them short enough that she could feel how she felt.

A part of her wondered what it was like to be in her position...what exactly entailed being a royal, let alone being at the very top of the ranks. One as young as the female before her.  It was something Nakia would never be jealous of, nor envious of. She enjoyed who she, what she did, and where she sat in the ranks. 

If there was a time Nakia had put her foot in her mouth, it was at her inquiry on if she was alright. The rock began to shift again in the Queen's hands as her answer rang in the air. Nakia knew alright, there wasn't a Silver who didn't know about what had happened to her. Then again, she was sure the entire Nine knew exactly what had happened to her. Sympathy immediately swirled in her, not pity...she'd never pity another, but sympathy was something else entirely. Nakia forgot how young the Queen truly was...and in her short lifespan how much she had gone through. 

Keen green eyes watched her Queen pace back and forth, "I am sorry for every thing that you have been through. No one should have had to experience what you have gone through, especially at such a young age." There was a pause...her mind no longer on the on what to send her from her shop, no longer on exactly what she had experienced...but on something else. Lowering her basket down until it was placed safely on the ground before straightening up, "Is there anyway I could be used of service, your grace?" She paused for a moment...a crease forming between her eyebrows as she thought over what she would be offering. It was rare, very rare, for her to offer to take another's emotions. Feeling it was one thing, but to absorb it was another. Not fully, that was something Nakia would never be able to do. But to lessen it...she could do. 

"I can help...if you would like."

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NOTES: I did!! Celest PM'd me on what to do. Thank you for your help Aydan! I seriously appreciate everything. I'm sorry this took a bit longer than I planned. I was unpacking over the weekend and had no time to post at all  

[TARI&LUC]

♦ Alatariel didn't have too many friends, or even just acquaintances she could chat with. Came with the territory of royalty, but also she just wasn't considered the "friendly" type so not many would bother with a seemingly one-sided relationship with her. Though they had only just met, she could see herself getting closer to Nakia over time. The mere lack of flattery or deception in her words was enough to score her far beyond most people Alatariel met nowadays, anyway. To top it off, there was even a bit of playfulness in the way she spoke. It had a way of putting the Queen at ease. ♦ Of course, broaching the elephant in the room invited a certain bit of discomfort to the conversation. 'I am sorry for everything...' Alatariel fidgeted from a few steps away, her eyes narrowing. It's not that she didn't appreciate the thought, and she definitely hated the way others seemed to walk on glass around her when it came to discussing the events of a few years past... But it wasn't exactly an easy topic of conversation either. The yet-immature Queen was still learning how to process her emotions as an adult, and this was probably good practice, if anything. Frowning into the distance, she considered throwing the rock she held as far as it would go, with her pent-up screams to follow - real mature - when Nakia's words stopped her. 'Is there anyway I could be used of service, your grace?' Alatariel felt the edges of her mouth twitching up into a sardonic grin. "Ha. Thanks for the offer, but I..." And as she turned to face her incidental companion, her words died away. Nakia looked ready to offer something far more than bare pleasantries. ♦ Alatariel had been ready to dismiss the insincere condolences she had been subject to again and again, but this looked serious. The rock fell from her fingers. "Help... how?"

WORDS 317 TAGGED nakia NOTES sorryyyyy for the wait! i'll give you a warning next time i get busy ^^'

[nakia]

‘“Help... how?"‘


A moment of silence weighed between the two Silvers at the question. As far as she knew, Nakia was the only Silver with her gift. And it wasn’t one she broadcasted out in the open. Only a few knew what she could do, and she preferred it that way, being the introvert that she was. Her gift allowed others to give up that emotion, to no longer feel anger or anguish or pain. But it came at a cost to her as she would feel what they were letting go.


So, the question was, would she offer to take away the anxiety she could rolling from her Queen.


Staring at Alatariel, Nakia did not feel any pity towards her. Rather she sympathized…while she may not have any children of her own, nor did she ever see that in her future; but no child should have gone through what the young Queen before her had.


However, it happened and there is no changing that fact. And from the very, very rare moments she had been around the Queen, she had seemed fine. But Nakia could feel her, just as she felt every one else that was around her.


So…the answer to the question that was left unanswered was yes.

“I’m an empath, your Grace.” her voice came out soft as she explained. “I can feel what you feel if it is strong enough and depending on how close I am to the other.”


Another reason she didn’t broadcast her ability was the fact some could take it as a breech of privacy. In her younger years she learned that not everyone liked knowing she could literally feel what they were feeling. But it wasn’t as thought she could just turn it off…so she learned to keep her ability to herself and a few she could call friends.


And now her ability was known to the Queen.


Folding her hands in front of her, Nakia went on with her explanation, “I can take away some of your anxiety. Or whatever you would like to be taken away. But I cannot take it completely away.”


She did not go into detail as to why, only if she was asked would she but for now she just wanted to focus on how she could help.

Locking eyes with the younger Silver, Nakia made sure to keep her voice soft, but serious. She did not offer some trickery, she meant what she said.


“I can help take away some of it.”

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NOTES: I am so sorry about how long this took!

[TARI&LUC]

♦ Alatariel listened to the other Silver's words carefully - they sounded almost like a confession, with the way they were spoken with such weight. So Nakia was an empath... Though their race was believed all-powerful by the other species of Ilisthmira, in reality most were only adept at a few things. It took years and years of steady practice to hone even a single kind of power, let alone the myriad of possibilities that lay inside these colorless ghosts. Most never bothered to learn more than one. Long though their lifetime may be, time was not limitless and neither was motivation - in Alatariel's case, it had taken decades of consistent pushing from her Morphling guard to get her to the rudimentary level she was at now with her Sight. From her youthful point of view, it was almost surprising to hear of another's special ability. When did anyone find the time, the energy..? Perhaps Nakia was simply more dedicated to her studies than she herself was. An easy feat, to be honest. ♦ The young Queen paused. It was a bit unnerving to have this, essentially, total stranger tell her that she knew exactly what and how she was feeling at this very moment. Like even her own thoughts weren't safe from others' scrutiny... No. She shook the intrusive doubts away. Nakia wasn't a mind reader (that she knew of) and she probably didn't even have to consciously use her powers. She had confided in her something that was quite possibly a dearly held secret - so why was Alatariel's first instinct still to push away? ♦ The only way she could settle her anxiety was to parry with humor. "Well then, you have my sympathies. I can't imagine I'd exactly be the easiest person for you to be around..." She took a deep breath and tried to dispel some of the thunderclouds in her mind - truthfully it was more for her own sake than anything else, but she supposed Nakia might appreciate the thought. 'I can help take away some of it.' This caught her attention. Her violet eyes slid up to meet the emerald ones staring back at her. Take it away? She could... finally have some relief? Alatariel tried to put up a strong front for those around her, but Nakia could certainly see through that; thus, what she suggested was not offered in light. There was a mixture of disbelief and wariness in Tari's gaze, but behind all that there was longing. It was an offer she couldn't bear to refuse. ♦ The Queen took a step towards her subject. "What do you need me to do?" And with the distance closed between them like the climax of some clandestine meeting, a voice rang out from the forest to shatter the image. "What in Serai's name is going on here?" Alatariel shut her eyes with a groan. It seemed Lucious had finally caught up to her.

WORDS 484 TAGGED nakia NOTES sorry again... but i'm finally in the uk!! and my dog harry got to come with us!!!

[nakia]

Silence stretched on between the two Silvers after Nakia’s offer. Unease prickled at the back of her neck, but she dared not say a word as the young Queen took in what was said. What was being offered. Unease at the thought of someone in such a high position to know her gift, a part of her expecting to feel the anger of the other female at knowing what she knew.

But there was none.

When Alatariel spoke next, she couldn’t help but shake her head, a small smile stretching her full lips, “My Queen, while I appreciate your words, believe me when I say I have felt much worse.” Hence why she rarely ever visited the taverns and only had outings where those attending were those in her inner circle. But she did not want her Queen to feel put on the spot, granted she probably did either way now that she knew Nakia could literally feel what she felt.

Ah but then the moment came when the realization of exactly what she offered clicked. But again, she didn’t dare say anything. This was the Queen’s decision on what she wanted to do and her choice alone. Just the same, Nakia took the silence to prepare herself. The first was to slow her breathing, inhaling, and exhaling on counts of seven. This act allowed both her body and mind to calm.

One step was all it took.

That single step Alatariel took spoke volumes. That one small, simple motion.

"What do you need me to do?"

There was a strength laced within those words, the determination that Nakia felt. Slowly raising her hands, palms facing up, the elder female did not reach out for her Queen. No, again this would be her decision on what she chose.

“You would just need to…” she was cut off before she could further explain what would need to happen.

"What in Serai's name is going on here?"

Emerald eyes cut towards the side at the sight of the approaching Morphling. Not just any Morphling though, but the Queen’s own guardian. The Admiral. Keeping her hands where they were, Nakia gave a slight nod towards the blonde male in greeting, “Admiral.”

Turning her attention back to Alatariel she continued where she left off, “Physical contact is needed, My Queen. You'll need to let yourself feel whatever you'd like for me to take, let it come forth. From what I’ve been told, the absorption feels as though a weight is being lifted from your shoulders.” Again, Nakia kept her hands right where they were, held out between herself and her Queen. 

Again, the choice was up to her and her alone.


Tag: .Aydan
Notes: I'm so sorry for the delay! I had my surgery and then I moved into my new apartment lol how is the UK?! I'm so happy your pup got to come with you!
**also I have no idea what happened to my template  **

[TARI&LUC]

♫ This wasn't the first time Lucious had found himself wishing he had a more complacent charge, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Hard-headed, stubborn, capricious, apathetic... all words that could be used to describe Alatariel, and yet, when he really dug down into his deepest desires... he wouldn't change any of it. For despite how troublesome she made their everyday lives, he still loved her for all she was. He had never once spoken of his affection out loud, but it wasn't hard to see. Most probably had their suspicions. None so far had had the guts to voice such a treasonous accusation though. ♫ Today's worry had its seed in the previous night's training. Alatariel's truculent refusal to read any of the books he had assigned ended in her storming out of the study, old tomes and important documents alike left scattered with abandon and Lucious left to finish her queenly duties. Yet again. Apparently she hadn't blown off enough steam, for when he went to wake her this morning, he had been utterly unable to find her. It seemed that perhaps her anger at Lucious had been the final straw to let Alatariel break free of the confines of the castle after so many years. This should be cause for celebration... and yet, what should have been a sweet victory had been soured by the fact that her hatred of him had been its impetus. Lucious shrugged away his darkened mood and focused on following the Queen's scent trail. ♫ Wearing his usual shaggy lion form, he slipped silently into the forest. From here there were hints of footsteps still visible in the piles of pine needles, so he shifted back into a human, eyes peeled and ears open to any hints of her presence. It didn't take long. As Lucious stepped out from behind a large tree, his eyebrows shot up as his gaze landed on not one, but two people. Instantly his blood ran cold, with the stranger raising her hands up at his Queen. He couldn't help but shout out as he hurried over. Couldn't help but hear Alatariel's exasperated sigh... Couldn't help the wince in response. ♫ Up close, it was quite clear that the other woman was another Silver. He could hardly order her to step away, but Alatariel's safety was his first priority - he stopped at an uncomfortably close distance, a steely stare directed at the both of them. "Alatariel, please explain." ♦ There he was, just waltzing in at the worst timing, acting like he knew better than everyone else... Same old Lucious. Alatariel rolled her eyes pointedly, taking a step back. The worry that rolled off him in waves - who did he think Nakia was, an assassin? - clashed with her irritation, making the air thick between them. Nakia barely offered him a greeting; Alatariel didn't even deign a glance his way - "Physical contact, you said?" She moved closer to the other Silver, leaning toward her almost eagerly. A Silver's powers could be very unstable, she knew, and it had made her hesitant, but now that Lucious was here telling her not to do it... Well, it really wasn't a choice anymore, was it? She pressed her hands against Nakia's. ♫ Lucious would have bristled had he still been a lion. He stepped forward again, this time pushing Alatariel's hands away. "I must insist," a slight growl lining his words. Since when had he gotten so bold? Perhaps the fear of something ever happening to Tari again had hardened him. Knowing the Queen would only continue ignoring him, he turned pleading eyes on Nakia. "Forgive my ignorance, but may I inquire your name and station? Quite early for a stroll in the woods..." His tone stopped just short of suspicious. He knew all the high-ranking Silvers, so this person must be either one of the commoners, or someone more nefarious...

WORDS 644 TAGGED nakia NOTES I've been SO busy settling in (there's a bunch of stuff to set up like paperwork, doctor stuff, taxes...) but it's getting better... work is getting busier though so it's lose/lose xD Hope you are feeling better after the surgery!! How's your new place??