Yros - [aw] Calm before the Storm

Izel lay, lazily sprawled atop the standing rat statues skull. His tail draping over it's face as he stares at the pastel colors streaking across the sky in wake of the rising sun. Izel has a rather dense coat, well adapted to the bone-chilling cold that was common here. Even if he were cold, his mind was busy.

His thoughts are recounting that awful night that the stars disappeared.

That night was terrifying.

No one really had an answer for it. No one he had talked to. Not yet, anyways. Though it was clear that their Trauma wasn't working- not predictably. It only left everyone with fear and questions. Perhaps the Gods were angry with them.. but what for?

Usually the noble male would be content to laze around, to put off his duties and responsibility.. but now? It seemed the wrong thing to do. The joy in his rebellion wasn't to be found anyways- his entire family has disappeared after that night. Panic possibly scattering them? Aside from his mother- she had been killed when Father tried to use his Trauma.

The man growls, loudly, frustration building. His golden eyes are now set in the direction of the Gods-wood. Izel had never traveled outside of Clairborne Cordillera. Still, he's wondering if answers could lie there..

ALWAYS IN THE TWILIGHT, THE SHADOW OF YOUR HEART

she wonders about her betrothed; they have not known each other long - and gemini has done her best to avoid him in the early days of their agreement. she doesn't know whether he's pleased or not to get the secondhand daughter of the crown; the cast off. hollyhock is the important one, the heiress who is practically leading the court firsthand. with their mother still mourning the loss of their eldest sister, she's surprised the matriarch had stirred enough to even agree to such a connection. but the girl doesn't much care - so long as she can still stretch her legs, still seek freedom when the desire strikes, her husband may do as he so pleases. nobles don't marry for love, her mother had said as she straightened the cloak over her shoulders. a passionless kiss to her cheek, a sharp nod, and then she was sent out the door to her apparent destiny.

how cliché. how dull.

gemini might not have seen him, lounging upon the rocky formation, if he hadn't growled. surprise lifts her brows and she turns her fiery gaze up, rolling her gaze skyward. a paw lifts to block the morning sun and she finds a vague smile curving her lips. threatening imaginary foes? she quips, jaw tilting minutely to regard him. the words are sarcastic, but demure enough to not insult outright. she's a court lady, sure; she knows all the right steps, all the ways to play the game ~~even if she hates it~~.

she doesn't want to make an enemy of Izel, at least not so soon.

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A feminine song tickles his ears. Izel's gaze drifts from the horizon, down to meet that of Gemini's blazing eyes below. She looked lovely in the early morning sun rays, he thinks. It was still setting in, the weight of his situation. To be married. Izel wasn't happy about this, it felt so forced- but as a man of status he has certain duties to uphold for his family. This marriage was one of these duties, much to his disdain.

"That depends," his voice is soft and warm, a small smile touches his lips. "Are you frightened?" Honey sweet words, drizzled over razor blades. His sun colored eyes narrow at her, making clear his annoyance at her humorous attempt.

Now was not a time for jokes. For pleasantries(though usually he would think the opposite). For ignoring the facts of their lives (that had all but been turned upside down) right now. As if the stars had not been sucked from the sky, as if their thauma had not been cursed to be so unpredictable....

Something that some other's seemed to be doing a lot of recently. Like his family had seemed to do.

They just completely scattered.

Father no doubt has ran way, to mourn in horror at what his Thauma had done to Mother.. and his siblings? Izel wasn't sure. The fucking cowards. Even now he could feel his blood boil. They should be searching for answers! Not crying and suckling about on their wounded feelings."I am upset, forgive my prickly nature." He back-peddles, mother would want him to try and make ground. After all this union was a political one, power and standing was everything in court. His mother had worked hard to arrange them, and so he would try and keep things in good faith. That way her efforts wouldn't have been in vain. She only wanted more for her children.."Let us go for a walk.." Izel slides down the statue nimbly, his specialized pads aid him in his decent. "How are you this morning?" after everything that happened..he almost adds: but bites his tongue. An attempt at casual conversation, after he had so rudely called her a foe.

ALWAYS IN THE TWILIGHT, THE SHADOW OF YOUR HEART

Izel's words are honey-laden, even as they're pointed as swords. her own lips twist in a little smirk, the dark corners of her mouth tilting up. terrified. she emphasizes, a paw lifting to press to her chest - though her keen gaze is anything but. she roves it across the brightly painted male, her ears twitching once, turning back to catch birdsong behind them. but i was not aware we were already enemies. that, she thinks, would come later - when the marriage was official and their tolerance wanes to nothing. gemini is more at home with this: the petty comments and little insults, swapping vicious words with pretty smiles. she's grown in the high court, always a lady bowing a head and playing the political games. but it seems that her beloved is quick to change his game ( or simply just his tactics? ) and swallows his earlier ire.

more genuine words offer a swift apology and a dark brow lifts minutely and the fire user shifts, placing her paw back to the earth and resettling her weight onto all four feet once more. of course. gemini says, bowing her head graciously and tamping down her urge to groan. this was her fault, of course - what else could she have expected to happen when she approached the man?

subduing her sigh, the royal moves back to allow him space to drop. she clears her throat and turns to usher him - or to allow him to usher her, she supposes - on their early morning stroll. izel's words are painfully casual and she manages not to chortle, though her whiskers twitch. the court is atwitter. she remarks, ruffling her long fur about her neck and regretting that she cannot call upon her thauma to warm her ( both of them, if he were not opposed ). rumors abound. a sly glance at him from the corner of her gaze, calculating; prodding. what rumors has he heard? or started, perhaps? she chews on the corner of her lip once, twice, before catching herself and schooling her face back to one of neutrality.

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