maevetuath-blog

[maevetuath-blog]

oscarxkam:

Human. It took in inhumane amount of self-control to not crack a smile at that because if anyone was having a worse day than he was - it was the Queen. Then again, she didn’t need fae magick or a siren song to talk someone to their deaths so perhaps any and all of the random species regenerations would have suited her just fine. He hadn’t the slightest clue where she’d been headed or where they were going now and had no way of asking, but it was pleasant enough to just walk. It wasn’t often he found himself alone with royalty and had he been his full self, he may have been tripping over himself with nerves and pressures, but tonight had an air of shared misery and that was a far better bond than any witty words.

It was only once they passed by the area his doomed Holiday party had taken place that he turned towards her with an impressed raise of an eyebrow. GRF, then? Oscar didn’t know what if any protections they’d taken against merfolk but he would find out shortly. On the other, if the vampires were no longer vampires, well, there wouldn’t be much standing in one humans way, now would there? It was damn clever, brave, and reckless. Oscar had no idea how long he’d been a mer or how long it’d last, but he was hoping against all hope that it wasn’t permanent which meant that at any point during this foolhardy mission, they could switch back and get trapped but then, his loyal lover and her advisor would come looking for the two of them - with plenty of sharp things and back up so - worry free, he continued on and just tried to think of what he knew as far as points of entry and egress before realizing he could relate none of it to her anyway and gave up to go return to his first point.

Just enjoy a misery-loves-company walk.

It seemed that the two of the former fae shared a sense of understanding. Maeve couldn’t identify the reason behind his lack of voice -- from what she could recall, it wasn’t much like a mischievous fae to be mute. Then again, this was far from a particular evening, so she found herself ignoring his silence. In fact, it was almost refreshing compared to the constant chatter of her heedless councilors and subjects. She would let herself believe that as the very least of his intentions, he was granting her respect, though who knew? Perhaps he was just a silent one. It would make sense, given that he was the preferred company of a telepathic. Hm...she mused. That’s almost poetic.

However, as she took notice of his inquisitive glances, she realized that he was remaining quiet for her sake. She shot him a look, one brow raised, finding some annoyance at not being formally addressed. However, the lack of conversation provided the fuel for intensive thought, and a realization soon dawned on her. He’s a mer now...the blasted fish have that siren’s song. Her expression softened and she nodded to him. “Thank you for cautioning your...abilities around me. It took me a moment, but I understand now.” She let out one small, brief chuckle and shrugged. “I don’t think I’d taste quite good now, anyways. Meat’s not sweet enough, or so i’m told.” She rolled her eyes before quickly disregarding her digression. “But I haven’t lived this long without learning how to commune with those less fortunate, as Queens do. Tell me -- Oscar, yes? Do you know how to speak with hand gestures? I think they call it Sign Language, now.”

As they rounded towards the GRF, her pathetic, human heart beat wildly in her chest. She was chock full of excitement, knowing that she would no longer be unable to enter the facility in her new state. She inhaled deeply, and though she knew her human nose would be a sad comparison to the power of her fae nose, she was relieved to find that there was no bitter, acidic scent hanging in the air, no hairs standing up at the nape of her neck. Maeve refused to use weakness as a form of judgement, however, finding that everything about this cursed form was weakened. She turned to Oscar and gave him a wicked grin. “Perhaps, dear Oscar, you can help me make a different kind of splash tonight. What say you, my friend?” She said, her voice thick with the velvety edge of mischief. 

[maevetuath-blog]

Perhaps some insolent dolt thought it amusing to curse a vengeful queen, or perhaps she was stuck in a restless slumber, dreaming of weakness, of mortality, of the burden of the mundane. Surely, it would come to pass, and leave her as she shook herself awake. The light of the moon would pierce her vision, taunting her as it often did when she awoke from such hateful sleep. But this was no dream. Small, reddening crescent-shaped indents blossomed upon her arms where she had tried to pinch herself awake. No such luck.

Moodboard for Human Maeve

[maevetuath-blog]

oscarxkam:

@maevetuath

Apparently, his half-baked plan had worked. Giving in to the underwater creature for a time, chasing sea-life and playing tag had granted him temporary use of his legs again. He’d scrambled as far away from the lake as he could get before running into someone else. His hand immediately rose to cover his mouth as he took in the Unseelie Queen and her…somehow rather diminished presentation. He still gave her a proper bow and tried not to pry into what had happened to her which was made easier by all attempts to not speak. He didn’t trust the song to not come out.

So he just offered an arm to her and motioned his other arm out in a request to join her on her walk. Truly, he should start keeping a pad and paper next to his flask because apparently, that could be useful in this damned forest. But he did feel awkward not saying anything when his personality was mostly what he was known for so he built up the courage and scrunched up his face before spitting out one carefully rehearsed-in-his-head, “Mer.” complete with a full body shudder. But it didn’t sound musical to his own ears and he shot a careful look at his companion to make sure the whole glaze-y eyes thing didn’t happen and then relaxed into his stroll. Crisis averted. For now.

This was a nightmare.

Or so it seemed to Maeve. Perhaps some insolent dolt thought it amusing to curse a vengeful queen, or perhaps she was stuck in a restless slumber, dreaming of weakness, of mortality, of the burden of the mundane. Surely, it would come to pass, and leave her as she shook herself awake. The light of the moon would pierce her vision, taunting her as it often did when she awoke from such hateful sleep. But this was no dream. Small, reddening crescent-shaped indents blossomed upon her arms where she had tried to pinch herself awake. No such luck. Her veins pulsated faster, her skin feeling heavy upon her lithe form. However, it was the sensation of her heart nearly stilling as the magick was stripped from her being that truly hinted at her new, human form. Nothing had changed -- no spare piece of food had been consumed, no article of clothing changed, except...oh no. 

The mask, which Maeve had found as much a part of her now as her skin, must have been the culprit. She yanked and yanked, hiding in the shadows of the forest as she rushed out of the cabin, tugging at the infernal decoration as if it were engulfed in fire.After a fair bit of time sulking and a long stream of colorful curses, Maeve had calmed her now-feeble heart down. Rational thought kicked in, and inspired a thought within her cunning mind. What is it that humans possess which fae are barred from? Iron. Excitement rushed through her as she nearly ran in the direction of the GRF, hastily concocting a plan for breaking in. It would be difficult without her magick, for as a fae, she could simply take the form of a shadow and slip in without detection, had it not been for the curse of iron. She huffed, her chest heavy, not realizing that a figure had materialized before her. 

He was familiar, though many faces came and went through the forest. Oscar, her mind reminded her. He was one of Avery’s favorites, and rumored to possess an affinity for her court’s ways. She was thankful to find a familiar face, and even more thankful when he offered her the respect of a bow. It was curious that he refused to speak, though not unheard of. Many spoke their mind to her, but others would follow conduct and not speak unless spoken to. However, Maeve could care less, and instead took his arm, nodding in acknowledgement. So it was everyone experiencing this, then? She felt the words slip past her lips. “Human. The bastards.”

[maevetuath-blog]

sorinvikare:

“Okay, cool,” Sorin said, readily accepting the offer to call her by her first name. Formality wasn’t a strong suit of his, and he’d prefer to treat her as if she were a friend and not a ruler. She wasn’t in charge of him, anyways, but he didn’t want to insult her or something. That seemed dangerous. However, she wasn’t uptight and stuffy, so that was good. “It’s good to meet you, Maeve,” he beamed at her, relaxing once more.

“Me too,” He agreed. “It’s boring. Pretty things are so much more fun and interesting.” He sat down as directed, slumping into the seat comfortably. Just as he’d expected- it was the type of chair he’d never want to get out of. He wondered if Maeve would miss it very much. He could move fast, after all, and he had vampiric strength… but that would be rude, and she might have him decapitated or something, so it was probably best not to risk it. Maybe she’d trade something for it, but what? Maybe if he made her happy, she’d give it to him as a token of her favor or something. Queens did that, didn’t they? He was pretty good at winning people over, he could figure it out.

“You have?” He asked, tilting his head, mildly surprised. He hadn’t even heard of her, and she was a queen. He wasn’t quite sure what to do with the knowledge that she had heard of him. “Good things, I hope. Though I suppose after that display, you know better than to think too highly of me,” He grinned. “From Oscar, maybe? Or Avery? I think those are the only two fae I know, besides you. And the lizard person.” 

The beginnings of a smile crept onto Maeve’s features. It was rare to encounter an individual that possessed such a jovial nature. Perhaps the vampire’s trusting nature was his folly...she could imagine that the constant need to interact would upset a rather reclusive leader, or so she assumed. The Strix, for the most part, kept to their dank scrap of land -- a scrap of a scrap, really, being that it was a mere facet of a larger facility. There was no compare to the birth and glory of the forts in her mind, with their spiraling intricacies and gilded quarters. Even their mess hall was ornate. She doubted this creature had experienced much in the way of luxury and fanfare, considering Maeve often imagined the vampires to exist in a constant, stiff darkness that calmly engulfed their crusty, dead figures. Perhaps he would change her mind.

“It is good to meet you as well, Sorin.” The name felt fun on her tongue, unlike the hard namesakes and titles of the fae, rooted in harsh Gaelic and an aeon spent telling nothing but the truth. The queen quirked her brow as he mentioned a proclivity for shiny objects, the political part of her often notating small, personal intricacies that others failed to notice they were revealing. There were a few things in life that could unfailingly captivate masses, and one of them was ‘pretty things’ as Sorin had put it. She, herself, was victim to the cursed lust for the ornate, and was incapable of denying its constant suggestion for her to adorn herself in such a manner. Perhaps that could be an effective trap, she mused, though a part of her theorized that it would not be a necessity. 

Maeve flashed a rather startling grin at the vampire, laughing lightly at his trepidation. “All good things, of course. It would be hard for me to lie about such.” She drummed her finger on the arm of the divan, holding the same intense gaze, her grin softening slightly. “I hear most things from my dearest Avery. He is the heart of my operations, and the brilliance behind our strategy. I would be nothing without his good judgments and...peculiarities. If he says that green has suddenly turned to black, I would believe him, and know that he speaks nothing but the truth to me.” She tilted her head slightly, examining Sorin with a more studious intensity. “He says you are to be trusted, and that we could be safe in bringing you into the warmth of our domain. I know that some of your kind feast on our sweet blood, so I would have to ask...do you wish to do us harm, dear one?”

[maevetuath-blog]

piouswar:

He could see the discomfort slowly rise, confusion—trepidation, that was what he longed to see but this was a levels lower than he truly desires to see. “That is true, regardless—information is information in the end. Oooh, how kind of you, Your Highness! I guess I will accept your offer.” Words sly and smooth, lips curled in a coy grin. Interesting, interesting! Although tone rose, head tilted as gaze cast down momentarily, he heaved a sigh, “I would feel god awful if I didn’t return the favor, is there… anything you need of me?” he wouldn’t be surprised if she had asked for the truth, not that he’d care. After all, Valerie was not one to appreciate surprise battles or unfair games. Or perhaps… history? Darn, now he regretted not having his friend by his side—but it might also be for the best, she was not the best with calm discussions. Nevertheless, it interested him if the Queen thought of him as someone pathetic and utterly worthless or perhaps someone promising?

An agreeable nod, Razael would definitely want to see this. Perhaps the Equinox will have to lay back and watch the show? Either way, it would not be an easy feat to find them or their base anytime soon. “And if these weapons were to be stopped?” His eyebrow rose in question and interest, “Let’s say, one was able to figure out the algorithm of how magick works—how it is distributed and how it is stored, then what use are the weaponries of the faeries if they can be stopped beforehand?” Hands begun to play with each other slight movements—pushing and wiggling with each other. Magic was after all far from spell casting and hand movements, it was a complex method that happens in a quick, fluid motion in one’s bodily senses. If by some chance someone had figured that out, it might as well be the downfall of all of the magicks. “Tell me, in all the battles you’ve faced, how would you describe them in a collective term?” He paused and hummed, “Or perhaps, what is it that you seek in a war?” Was it the battle itself or the victory?

A swell of pride rose within Maeve’s chest. Long were the days where a fae would simply walk into the court and, from the genuine and honeyed words that poured past her lips, be inspired to join the winter court. It felt as if it were a special and wonderful form of manipulation -- one that instilled a sense of truth within a fae, which was the truth of their own soul. Maeve believed all fae had the distinctions of an Unseelie one way or another, but were simply brainwashed into thinking that the winter court possessed a sense of darkness to it. Truly, that would befit the nature of the fae before her. He towered over everything as if he were a giant made to flatten the Earth like a patch of grass. She made yet another note of this, and mused for a moment how handsome a soldier he would make leading a vanguard into a bloody massacre. “I require no repayment. You are of our kind, our blood. Therefore, you shall have a home with us. If even the courts of winter and summer can come together harmoniously, then it should be just as plausible to accept any fae without conditions.”

Maeve knit her brow together in concentration, though her lips remained quirked  in a coy smile. These were the questions she yearned to have asked by her council, a group of trained and battle-worn fae with centuries of experience behind them, yet were so incapable as to forget to challenge and debate, seeking answers with advocating opposite thought. “Do you believe magick is so simple to have a singular algorithm? I think magick is far beyond the reaches of mathematics. Human variables and quantification cannot make something so abstract completely explicit. Therefore, I highly doubt they would be able to master magick without having a lick of it in their blood.” She smiled softly, resting her brow. “War is for glory. There is as much glory in bloodshed as there is in victory. Perhaps the gore of this is too illustrative, but I’ve felt the stain of my enemy’s blood upon my skin, and it has been the closest I’ve come to the experience of a true religious encounter.” She laughed softly and shook her head. “I’m doing a terrible job guiding this tour, aren’t I? Speaking of the ills of war and bloodlust.”

[maevetuath-blog]

theyoungergrimm:

Among his precautions, Hans had brought along a small recorder stashed in one of his jacket pockets. It wouldn’t do anything to protect him, but a record of their conversation would be invaluable afterward. If there was one thing old legends and tales had prepared him for, it was that the fae were tricky. They couldn’t lie, that had been determined through a multitude of tests within the facility’s labs, but that didn’t stop them from having fun with the phrasing of their statements. Hans was no stranger to creative truth-telling himself, a skill which had helped him often in the past and was proving more than useful in the forest. With a recording, he would be able to do an in-depth analysis of every word Maeve spoke. For now, he was only able to run over what she had said in his mind. It was blunt, more forward than he would have expected, but all with an edge of diplomacy to it.

“You’re absolutely right,” he said, looking at her calmly. “I will not live as long as you, no human will. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s also part of what drives my species. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.” The sun was descending below the trees, a slight halo surrounding Maeve’s shape and sharpening her features with shadows. “I may not be here to see what happens next, but what I learn and what I create will be. I will be the first to admit that I do not know nearly as much about the intricacies of your courts as I would like to, but I have seen in every species I’ve come across a desire for more. To be more. That is what I want, what all of us within the facility want. Science is about forging new frontiers, reaching for knowledge and using that to create something new.” He smiled, the bright and charming smile of dinners and fundraisers, one which promised no end of fun if the other party decided to play along. “And what are your intentions? In the interest of open communication.”

Maeve weighed Hans’ words carefully. He was curt and forward, which she appreciated. Humans have shown their ability to be indecisive and dishonest to her in the past, which irked her beyond reason. She was of the belief that one should be as transparent as possible, or else life will be worthlessly deceptive in return. The Unseelie Queen had been honest in all of her endeavors -- not just in the words that bound her to the truth. When she believed something to be either wrong or right, she would act accordingly, and many would follow her example. 

It seemed that Hans was of the same mindset -- or that was how it appeared from a distant perspective. While she was a proponent of ambition and the strength of culture found in tradition, he was a man of innovation and progress. The latter was something they had in common, though their objectives were dissimilar. It filled her with a sense of discomfort to know they were so similar, yet so different at the same time.

As he returned the question, Maeve quirked a brow. She had expected the question would be returned to her, but not so plainly. Maeve half expected him to pursue her mind in half-questions and shadowed statements. Even still, she was not entirely convinced everything he would say would be the truth. Nevertheless, she saw his smile and returned it, allowing a small sparkle to reach her eye inthe dimming light of the sun. “Our kind have been a part of Arain for a significant period of time. Longer than many generations of your family line. There is ambition in our courts, as there is in all sects of the forest. However, the rest of the forest is another matter that has been met with bipartisan agreement. There are far too many issues to be worked out within the alliance of the two courts, and I believe that is a matter which we intend to solve before even considering the impact of the...newcomers such as yourself.”

[maevetuath-blog]

Is there anything in your life right now that makes you happy?

Alcohol and intelligent conversations. Not always together.

[maevetuath-blog]

What's the craziest thing you've done on absinthe?

I had a swig before I took the throne, does that count?

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What’s the funniest prank you’ve ever pulled on someone?

I once shifted myself into the image of someone I loathed and convinced everyone they had split personalities. I’ve been told it was insensitive and cruel, but why does it still make me laugh?

[maevetuath-blog]

What do you know of the Equinox?

I know that they are tied to my family, though that was aeons ago. I know that they’re essentially dead in the ground, frozen in some unmarked tomb, which I believe is good. Leave them be. I’d rather not open Pandora’s box. Besides, how else will you get decent sleep these days?

[maevetuath-blog]

sorinvikare:

A thoughtful “Huh” was all Sorin managed to respond with because he was once more caught up staring at the fixture. He loved the pretty chandelier, and he loved blood, and the thought of them both together… impractical, maybe, but he was quite sad at the knowledge that he hadn’t gotten to see such a sight. He swallowed and managed to slide his eyes back to the woman, trying to push away any and all desire for blood, because in the company of fae- his favorite- such a train of thought was dangerous.

The reminder of his prank helped, and he grinned at the idea of such a tragic visage being an improvement. He really wished he’d gotten a better look, but most of his memory was fixated on what Banbhan had looked like after the potion and not before. Delighted, he replied, “I got it from the marketplace. It had a green tent. I can show you, if you want. It wasn’t even expensive. You just have to make sure none of it gets on you,“ he added, because she was pretty and nice and he didn’t want her to get stuck as a monster. “Now instead of a sad aardvark, he’s an angry lizard.” 

He simply blinked at her for a long moment at the revelation that she was the Queen. Then, he remembered his manners and shot a hand out to shake hers, fighting the urge to apologize. If he could have blushed, he would have, and all he could think to blurt was “Am I supposed to bow? Is that a thing? Do I need to call you ‘Your Highness?’” An embarassed grin took over his face, and he gave a nervous laugh. This was someone he especially couldn’t eat. No mistakes, no biting, not even any tiny nibbles. “I like your apartments,” He breathed out, scrambling for something to say. “This place is beautiful. But I guess it obviously should be, for a Queen.” 

Maeve smirked at the vampire before her, sensing that he was a rather trusting individual. Funny, as he had just willingly ran into the abode of a fae, and Maeve was no idiot as to what rumors spread about her kind. They said they were as deadly as they were beautiful -- full of mischief and ambition. Nothing could stand in their way, and though they bore no wings, they would reach whatever heights they could manage in life. Murder and the burden of bloodshed was what brought them to Arain, after all, or rather what brought them back. Yet she was also gambling on the kindness of a stranger. She, too, was prey to this vicious predator. It never passed her notice when a new fae was found drained of blood with punctures in their neck. Rarely did it ever happen to her Unseelie, and it was still fairly uncommon for the Seelie, but it was enough to drive a sense of hate into her heart. Yet why did this one seem so...trusting? And, even more curious, why was he somehow so trustworthy? 

The Queen made a mental note to visit the green tent in the marketplace sometime, as well as to keep a close eye on the recently-afflicted fae. Perhaps if he did not carry the cursed appearance for long, she would pour some of the liquid into Aibell’s tea...or better yet, gift her a bottle of liquor and a basket of goodies...perhaps chocolates and dried fruits. She waved the thoughts aside, refusing to submit to the digressions of her internal thoughts. Instead, Maeve focused on the fluctuation of the vampire’s expression. She laughed lightly and shook her head. “No, you needn’t be so formal. You may call me Maeve, if you would like. Some prefer to know me simply as the queen, though. It’s entirely up to you,” she replied, heading over to a cushioned divan nearby. 

The thought left a small pang in her chest; she had plenty of loyal subjects, but few she would call friends. Not many knew her simply as Maeve, anymore. Not like they did when she was a simple trouping fae. She looked around as Sorin indicated his pleasure and smirked. “Thank you. I enjoy lavish things. I find minimalism dreary and stupid. Come, sit.” she said while indicating to an adjacent seat. “So, Sorin, I must admit -- as honesty is my whole being -- that I’ve already heard talk of you."

[maevetuath-blog]

averynye:

His brow furrowed in concern for her, but he still refrained from digging at her thoughts to see exactly what ailed her. His expression softened at her thanks, but his distress remained. “Is there anything more I can do to ease your mind?” He asked, shuffling through the knowledge he had of the Seelie and their Queen. Perhaps he could work more at swaying them. He’d been planting doubt in their minds when he could, trying to cast their faith against a Queen that would inevitably fail so that they may pledge themselves to Maeve instead—but they were mostly happy-go-lucky fools.

“You should take time for yourself.” Avery advised carefully. “I know first-hand what a troubled mind can bring in terms of focus and overall health. Allow me to worry about the safety of our borders for a few days at least. Perhaps I can bring you a prisoner or two to toy with, that would help wouldn’t it?” The last bit is said with a hint of a grin, despite it being said with all seriousness. Avery would gladly drag in a human or vampire for his Queen to lock away, poke at, or question however she saw fit. The humans were doing it, so why shouldn’t they?

Maeve shook her head at Avery’s kindness, wondering how in the world she had ever come to deserve such devotion and loyalty. “No, that won’t be necessary. Unless you can replenish the entirety of my liquor collection. I fear I may run dry within a few decades,” she replied with a wink. The statement seemed to be an exaduration of necessity, but a few decades to a powerful fae was comparable to a mere number of months, depending. Not to mention the fact that Maeve was more than capable of drinking others under the table, and would easily be labelled an alcoholic if she were a human with a weak liver, but one would simply digress to announce such.

The Unseelie Queen had opened her mouth to begin dismissing her adviser's concerns, but found herself quickly shutting it at his suggestion. The detestable parts of herself bubbled from deep within, slowly arising to the surface. It took very little to inspire thoughts and actions within her; actions and thoughts one would thus call disagreeable and hateful. Something about wearing the crown gave her a sense of power that translated into an undeniable bloodlust -- one that had lead their court onto a path of victorious bloodshed throughout the landscape. “Hmm...it has been so long since I’ve dabbled...oh, why not? Perhaps we could test out the rumors about wood.” Maeve grinned back, an eager light in her eyes.

[maevetuath-blog]

piouswar:

A quick smile hid behind his hand despite his chuckle that seeped of genuity. “I see, I see. That is… a truly remarkable upbringing,” There is awe that seemed to have tasted like poison in the way the words fell from him. After all, this woman was able to raise two faeries capable of owning the crown of each court, a crown not meant for them to wear. It was no secret that Razael once admired Bronagh’s magick and had hailed that his descendants, the Tuath heritage, would make a grandiose contribution to the glorious epoch of the faerie history—that he had foreseen a bright, powerful future. It was a belief that he still recognized even until today. “Hm, perhaps I should take the other direction on my next visit…,” he thought to himself. While the thought of being stuck in a seat with stacks of books in hand was nauseous enough to be compared to a nightmare, he knew there were limited fae that knew extensively of the past or even bothered to scrutinize such a thing. “Ah, books are such telltales, however I shall take your suggestion into consideration, I do not think there is much about their history that can be told so simply by the common fae.” A little disappointing, back then almost every being knew of their power, their masses and their glory now they had been degraded to ill incantations, superstitions or simply names in history records.

The emphasis on ‘yet’ had piqued his interest once more, “Mankind are simple, yet ever changing creatures. When battle arises, they are quick to falter and deceive—a rather cliché form of the art of war or so it may seem. If you ask me, whatever battle that may occur may not be what you think it would be.” No matter the weaponry or strategy at hand is he has known how futile it may be. He’s seen war, started war and stopped wars—the latter is however was less likely to happen. As a fellow faerie with interest of seeing an entertaining show, a bit of an old quote may be interjected. “While I do understand the threat these vampires pose against the forest, the humans are what catches my interest. They are beings with no magic yet a mind that innovates faster than what magic can do, I have witnessed quite a few acts these humans can do and their limitless possibility with their technology, do you believe it is plausible for the magicks to overpower human’s greatest inventions?” a pause. Even he was surprised by the sudden surge of technology, the boundless possibilities a single click or tap could do to many gadgets, even weaponry has evolved to a much efficient and deadlier mechanism. This was no declaration that he deemed technology to be much powerful than magick, he only wished to see and weigh the certainty and feasibility of these faeries.

Maeve felt...uncomfortable. The way that this fae spoke with such surety, it was almost as if he believed he lived it himself. But such was impossible, as the Equinox could not be awoken. Their tomb couldn’t even be located...could it? Curious fae would often make the trek to find it, boasting of plans to awaken the gods themselves, but none were ever so successful. Those that had abilities refused, speaking of ancient curses and bad omens awaiting them upon entry. Maeve only caught small pieces of conversations, caring little for players seated along the sidelines. They had no contribution to her rise in power, no grasp of her true nature, and no place in the modern chain of command. They were still locked away in some unimaginable corner of the world, sealed away for the good of the world by a brave fae. Perhaps this fae was...delusional. It wouldn’t be a first. The thought bored her slightly. “Well, slight information is better than none at all. Regardless of the libraries, you have a place within our residences. If you so wish, I could arrange for rooms to be prepared for you posthaste here in the Unseelie sector.” She replied with a smile, though it was forced through her twinge of discomfort.

Admittedly, Maeve was slightly taken aback by the quality of his question. He seemed to understand a fair bit about the struggles of war, which Maeve made a mental note to return to. “It has already been something of an issue, actually. When the humans arrived, they did so with an arsenal of assault weaponry. Swords and muskets were one thing, but these...automatic weapons were another. I believe the advancements made in the name of science and medicine are exceptional, as they also allow for those of us with similar bodily structures to understand ourselves. But this was far from civilized battle. These weapons were created for the purpose of continuous murder, and I will not allow them to pierce any more of my kind.” Maeve would openly admit that there was a part of war that she missed -- the gritty dirtiness, the shouting of men reloading trebuchets and cannons, and the clarity of their screams as they faced the wrath of her undead army. It was once a show of strength and prowess, but now it is just merciless and vile.

[maevetuath-blog]

How do you want to die?

If I can choose, i’d say by old age thousands of years from now, drunk on expensive liquor, covered in nothing but jewels, surrounded by the ghosts of my enemies so that I might laugh at them and have that be the last breath I take. 

[maevetuath-blog]

what situation do you fear would happen?

Well, mortality is always a dreary thing. I may be able to give life to the dead, but I would be incapable of helping myself if I were to die. Pathetically ironic.

[maevetuath-blog]

piouswar:

Sleeping Gods. What a foolish jest, he could only simply chuckle and a simple smile as an answer, “Pretty much yeah, my parents were quite odd in terms of naming.” In fact, he could no longer remember why his biological parents ever chose that name—not that he could even remember their faces anymore at this point. “Oh? I’ve never actually heard much of their latter reign, only that they were legendary.” Ego booster. “Although, they are heavily tied to the Tuath name, am I right? Both powerful lineages that go way back in time.” He definitely did his history assignment. Casual conversations first before war, after all Razael was also curious how their name were remembered—did that bogus Bronagh claim all the glory for himself? Claiming he had conquered all four Gods? The casual laughter is returned, the lighthearted atmosphere was definitely helpful.

“Oh, tell me about it. I could tell just how much you abhor these idle moments, I’d have to say the same—though I could not be as busy as a Queen yourself,” he chuckled as hands behind him and his back straightened as he followed the other’s lead, It has been a while since he’s ever touched Arain or this part for the matter. Though almost everything had been changed, he’s quite thankful that the modernization did not influence the forest too much. The way she spoke had intrigued him, wondering what new renovations were made in these forts to deem this little adventure enjoyable.

A moment of silence, perhaps a little expansion on the conversation would not hurt. “I have… heard, there is a faerie alliance going on—what exactly is the war here? I rarely see both courts working hand in hand unless it is of dire need to.”

Maeve felt a creeping sense of suspicion rise within her. A newcomer arrives, out of the blue, with what seems to be an extensive knowledge of regal lineages -- particularly her own family name. It was perhaps nothing...after all, she had studied many of the high-ranking Unseelie before seizing the crown for herself. Perhaps this outsider wanted only to impress her, rather than usurp her position for his own. Not that it would mean much, she thought, considering we are of one group now. Instead of narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she raised her head and smiled. “Yes, I believe so. Mother never did talk about our family name much, as it was a source of vanity. She wanted us to be humble, and find our own strengths in this world." Maeve and Aibell’s mother was a fantastic matriarch, she realized. It took a great deal of strength to raise two fae so self-sufficient and intelligent that they would both go to make powerful queens. Maeve felt a sense of pride swell within her. “But I only know as far as Bronagh Tuath, who was said to be a companion of the Equinox, yes. Or so I’ve been told. I’m sure Aibell has something on them in her massive library somewhere, if you’re truly interested.”

The Unseelie Queen squared her shoulders and raised a brow at Razael. “There isn’t exactly a war. Not yet, at least.” She replied, putting cheeky emphasis on the word ‘yet’. “However, Arain is now host to humans and vampires, which are two groups previously disallowed entry. Not every race is particularly fond of their...intrusion, if you will, so if anything turns sour, we must prepare for battle. It is essential, is it not?”

[maevetuath-blog]

theyoungergrimm:

After sending the reply, Hans had grown far more cautious. He had been swept up in the moment, in the excitement of meeting with one of the queens, and had looked past the incredible danger he had agreed to place himself in. Perhaps it would have been wisest to go to Greta and David and whoever else he deemed necessary and tell them what was going on, but he could just hear Greta’s condescending tone as she asked what he’d been thinking, how he could have agreed to something, all the while acting as if she was so much smarter than him. 

So instead of doing anything like that, he left a message on his computer to be sent if he wasn’t back within eight hours and packed his coat pockets with some of the tech they’d been developing to combat and defend against magick. The walk was long but he was growing used to the trip out into the forest. His walks to see Micah before so much had changed had been of a similar length, and his sleepwalking excursions had taken him much farther than this.

Through the trees he could see a woman standing there, in clothes so impractical for the scenario that she could only be a fae. With the way she held herself, prouder than even the conceited posture of every fae he’d encountered so far, she was undeniably the queen. “My apologies, your majesty.” The words sounded strange on his tongue, something from a different world. It was odd that he could step from his facility, filled with modern developments and ingenuity and walk into a conversation from an older age. “Thank you again for reaching out to me, there’s been too little conversation in this forest.”

He stopped across from her, glad that he had chosen his best suit and jacket to wear. Diplomacy was as much about how you looked as what you said, and he knew how to look good. It would have been too cold without the gloves he had found in his office one day, some sort of stilted apology from one particular enchanter. He’d been reluctant to wear them at first, but recent developments had led to a willingness to test them, and the warmth they spread through his body was one of the better apologies he’d ever received. “So. What in particular did you want to speak with me about?”

Maeve watched with intrigue as the human emerged from the underbrush. He was...not exactly what she had imagined. Tales of wicked humans and an iron-filled mausoleum painted an image of a grotesque, monstrous creature who preyed upon magicks like a bird with a worm. Both he and his sister were foreigners, and initially disregarded upon their initial settlement. When Maeve had heard of their forthcoming, she laughed in the messenger’s face and shooed him out, finding the whole idea preposterous. Humans, in Arain? The non-enchanter sort? Ridiculous. 

And yet, they had managed to garner something of a reputation with the magicks over a period of time. Maeve heard less and less about the going-ons of their facility, and waived it off as simple misdirection or lack of interest. Her eyes and ears had reported nothing as to what they had seen, and she gave little consideration as to what power they held in the forest. That is until Aibell revealed the actions taken against her sworn protectorate. The very thought of someone worsening the state of her favorite toy was enough to make Maeve’s blood boil with rage.

But that rage had suddenly surpassed. The man before her was far from a shambled gremlin, and instead a classically handsome and well-dressed individual. No doubt he was freezing in his suit, considering the weather was still far from the pique of spring. Maeve could not care less. It was diplomatic, carefully chosen and a well-crafted appearance. It showed respect for her and her position, as well as the importance of their meeting. He stank, as all humans did, but it was something she had learned to overcome with enough exposure. He was fit for a human man, she would admit. Maeve enjoyed the curl of his hair and the glint in his blue eyes. They told a rich story of an intelligent man -- one that possessed an enigma which Maeve intended to crack wide open in time, one way or another.

“My reasons for meeting are plain and few. I shall spare you pleasantries and be brief, as is kind in this sort of weather.” She replied, head held high. “First, I believe the most intelligent move for the forest, politically, is to gain an understanding as to what the intentions of other parties may be. Arain is an ancient and revered land of magick, and has not previously been open to your kind for a number of valid reasons...nevertheless, you have settled and are now to be considered a staple of this forest. So, I shall ask you this: What sort of legacy are you hoping to leave here? You shall die much sooner than the rest of us, and I would like to know what you intend to leave behind when that day comes.”