nyraxodeyer

[nyraxodeyer]

Though not being a holiday she actively observed, Nyra could get behind the festivities when Christmas time rolled around, the cheer and the time spent with loved ones was always worth celebrating, and of course, the shopping too, always a bonus. Fingertips brushed lightly over the many items displayed, shiny pretty things, it brought a smile to her lips. A smile that lingered as she turned at the call of her name, "I think so, yes," she responded when Gia asked for her input, "She has fine taste and that I believe falls in it." Her shopping had been wrapped up but she was always willing to lend a hand and an eye for the other. "How do you feel about it? We can keep looking if there's something else that strikes out to you."

closed starter || @nyraxodeyer Gia and Nyra at the Christmas Market 🎄 ✨

Of all the winter festivities, shopping was Gia's favorite. Second only to the actual gift giving. She delighted in the look on a loved one's face when receiving something genuinely desired. Hence why the vampire put so much time and thought into her gifts. Each person on her, albeit short, list was intentionally sought for. There were few opinions Gia truly cared for, and even fewer still in regards to taste. A rare few indeed were trusted to take shopping and be called upon for input. "What do you think, Nyra? Will Meena like it?"

[nyraxodeyer]

"Threat?" Drumming away vexation that travelled a path to an actual headache, Nyra heaved a sigh as JC continued to speak. "Did you not moments ago imply that Meena might be worse of than just missing with 'tattle to potentially dead teacher'? Was that okay? But sure, blame me. You're seeing her, great, but she's my friend too." Centuries before they began dating, she wanted to add but didn't. "Once again, I have better things to do after Meena is found than tell her all the ridiculous things said and done in that meeting." Though as she thought on it now, since he was so adamant into thinking she actually will, maybe she should. At least that way she'll meet one expectation of his.

"We agreed that you can do both those thing, though? Saying if you want to take the lead on that is implying you're useless. You brought up Mason, to that I wasn't sure on. Ghosts work differently in our culture, we prayed for reincarnation, I don't know the exact mechanisms of Spirit Raising but I wouldn't want that for the Mahirs. I hope you understand that." Looking to him now, she blinked a little, confusion flickering across her face, she didn't know if everything grew twisted in her head or if JC had forgotten all the things he himself had dismissed or all the times he had implied the rest of them were useless. "I didn't say they were my business? I just pointed out that there were notes between the two of you alongside the main discussion."

She let out a slow exhale trying not let the weariness show. "I agree with that, it shouldn't be easy that's why there's so many, albeit bordering on ridiculous, arguments we have in that room. I don't expect that? What? I know you're not the one to sit quietly and let things slide, which is an admirable trait, we need that. You're worried, I can see it, and angry at everything that went down, I can feel that, but did also take the rest of situation? That meeting was held a couple or so days after the chaos, you saw how Ben had to call in? I was also kidnapped, stuck in a nightmare scenario and burned with iron. Sorry for not coming to the table with ideas and a fucking go-getter attitude." She hated having to explain that, having to admit that she had been hurt and tired in case it would be misconstructed like everything else she said and be considered a weakness or something as such. She laughed sharply breaking out of her head, "No you don't, you literally don't. No one thinks you're a bad guy either, if you do, then that's on you."

Júlio César narrowed his eyes. "I said what I said, Nyra. I made a suggestion about asking some of the spirits in-town. Maybe not the best. But Aaliyah compared my moral character to Lori's and then threatened to tell Meena I was resurrecting Theodore Moore. Ridiculous." He shook his head. "And while I can't blame you for Aaliyah's actions, I can blame you for making the same threat. Was that respectful? Dangling the missing woman I'm...seeing over my head like I'm a child?"

He grunted. "Imply? You implied I wasn't useful too. You suggested I was somehow too good to round up ghosts or talk to local business. Which is exact kind of thing I signed up to the Council to do. The work. The wolves have been on the streets for every single disaster." He grunted. "And just so you know, I told Jake to stop snacking. And the notes aren't your business. They are between me and the Alpha. Do I mettle in Fae conversations? Honest question."

Crossing his arms, JC cocked is head to the one side. "Oh, I like disagreements. I wish we'd stop taking the path of least resistance. It's not supposed to be easy or timely. We have to stop avoiding unpleasant shit. And listen, I'm sorry if I made you feel belittled. Or disrespected. But I did not start anything in that meeting. I was genuinely, truly, doing everything in my power to get along and get things done. But as you so aptly reminded me, 'I don't always help the situation.' Even when, up to that point, I, again, hadn't done anything. People just expect me to and snap at what they assume." He met her eye.

"Yeah, our weaknesses used against us sucks. I know it," he replied, clearing his own throat. "And there it is again. What did I do, Nyra? I have to sit there with perfect composure too. I get an inch too loud or don't roll over at a snappy throwaway comment, suddenly I'm the bad guy."

[nyraxodeyer]

"Not I don't imagine them doing so," she nodded, "The wars and all the isolated attacks that loom over us it's not an easy topic of conversation. They did what they felt was best." And though it came at the cost of loss of knowledge and understanding of their kind, Nyra did know such tough decisions had to be made back then for safety, security and all that came with wanting to protect their kind. "There are definitely disadvantages that come with not knowing, but I can say, even knowing doesn't always make one prepared for things, not entirely. To grow and adapt, it's needed for our kind too, magic is as changing as it is constant. So, yes, absolutely, this place, now that you're here, learn all you can, seek out information, fill in the gaps of your own knowledge, it'll make you and us stronger. If there's any way I can help to answer questions you might have, I'm happy to do so."

At the admittance, Nyra gave her a smile, "That's perfectly alright, I'm not here to force or pry, these things take time. You really don't need to thank me for that, it's the least I could do." She agreed with the rest though, despite adversities and all the bloodshed, there were still people willing to be kind and really, hope is all they had. "Completely understand that, sometimes it's the people that make a place feel safe despite all odds. I'm glad you stuck around in any case." Out there was less safer than in here she felt, less support and greater risk, but given everything it really grew to be equal amounts of danger. "I'm around if you ever wish to talk, just know that you're not alone."

END?

Aysun nodded somberly, stifling a sigh. "It was protection, you're right about that. The Elders never talk about it openly, especially not with the children, but it's my understanding that our family line was...particularly hard hit by the Species War all those years ago. My surviving ancestors made the decision to move off the grid and live in solitude, rejecting this part of them for generations to come. I...understand it, I had a wonderful childhood even if it was an unconventional one, but now...I guess now that I'm part of this life part of me wishes I'd been more prepared. There was so much I didn't know, so much I still don't know, but I guess Lunar Cove is as good a place as any to start learning...right?"

Despite the weight of their conversation, a smile tugged at her lips at the sight of the butterfly, her eyes following it around the room, watching it morph into a hummingbird. The feel of Nyra's hand on her own drew her attention back, and she automatically returned the squeeze with one of her own. "I...don't think I'm ready to talk about it now," she admitted slowly, "but...thank you for your kindness. You are right about there being light to the darkness, because for every horrible thing that has happened since I've been here, there seems to be some form of light as well. I've met some of the kindest people here, which I wasn't expecting," she admitted with a sheepish little chuckle before trailing off into silence for a moment. "Honestly, if it wasn't for that, I probably would be packing my bags right about now." Not that she had anywhere else to go, but she'd have figured something out.

[nyraxodeyer]

With the shift of scenery and mood came a shift in mindset too, she no longer felt a weight dragging her under, nothing chained heavy to her chest that made even taking a breath seem like a herculean task, an easy lightness flowed and Nyra sank into that feeling. "I have yes, it's strange yet also not? A familiarity that I couldn't place until I found out. I did scream when I first sprouted a tail though," she laughed recalling the memory. "Much like how it was for you, water was a comforting presence then quiet literally a saving grace." The ocean still felt like an escape, she found true solace in its depths. "I like that — a place of possibility," she hummed low as she repeated those words and listened on, nodding at the feeling, "A sense of serenity then? I don't have anything as such to lean into but having a private space is a good feeling. You have formidable skill and unmatched creativity, truly, it's exciting to see your displays and new designs..but we don't see all your creations, do we?" she questioned in between sips of tea and with attention diverted away from the waves and onto Kaye, inquisitiveness grew, "What gets the green light?"

≽·≼

As Nyra seemed to relax a little on the surface, Kaye did the same, focusing on maintaining and enhancing their surroundings. They poured a cup of fragrant tea and passed it to Nyra as she spoke, pressing warmth and serenity into each detail. The sensations weren't physical so much as an inherent knowledge, the concept of a soothing cup of tea, the memory of sunshine gentle on their skin. Any details they could think of to push away what had been there before, anything to make it seem like the dream world really was separate from the heartbreaking scene they'd stumbled into. "There's a lot of power in that choice, I've found," they agreed.

They nodded. "You always felt that connection, then? I remember, when I was much younger, feeling something like that with flying and vanishing, I think. Just the ability to get away from it all, before I learned to use it as a tool for survival it was more of a gift than an escape." Kaye gave it some thought, and then said, "Mostly? My shop. My work. It's a place that to me, is only full of possibility. The constraints are my own hands, my own imagination and skill. I like the privacy, and the satisfaction of being somewhere I made for and by myself. I'm a true hermit, that way." They smiled a little conspiratorially. "Well, until I feel like showing off what I've made. That's its own sort of satisfaction."

[nyraxodeyer]

"I think you do it on purpose sometimes, you enjoy this far too much." Nyra couldn't help but laugh at the smirk that played on Vanessa's lips, "Oh yes, try to fit in with the kids lingo, please, it'll give me great joy to hear you speak such things."

Energy shifted as she moved outside, and further when she took a sip herself. She hadn't been much a drinker, at least not much outside of social situations or when things got dire; this was neither yet she felt tequila was much needed.

Placing the flask in-between them as she walked further onto the porch, a smile tugged her lips upwards at the mention of the pie, "I don't see the appeal either, and honest is the only way I can be, but it seems to be something she enjoys and I don't like showing up empty handed." She also liked Vanessa's company, not just in terms of feeling a kinship given they both were sirens, there was a great deal she could learn from the older siren. "If I knew you were here I would've gotten something you liked." She paused to look at Savannah, casting aside all thoughts and information she knew about the other in past lives, "What do you like? So I know for next time...if I can visit again?"

"What? Hadn't I mentioned it before?" Vanessa mused, though the smirk that played across her lips made it abundantly clear to them both that she knew that she hadn't. But, if there was one thing the older siren loved more than anything, it was holding information close to her chest to be able to spring upon someone at a moment's notice such as now. "How else am I going to get you to reach my level or whatever it is the kids are saying this days?" She quipped, falling silent as she watched Nyra head out onto the porch after Savannah.

"Ha," A light scoff broke from Sav's lips as she spared a glance over her shoulder to where Nyra was standing against the door. "I might have already-" beat you to it, was what she had been starting to say, given that she had spiked her own cup of tea still sitting on the kitchen counter inside. But, then again, turning down a drink hardly seemed to be in her best interest right about now. So, instead she pivoted and offered up a, "tequila’s all well and good, but oh, for the love of gravy — somebody best lay that pie to rest ‘fore I do."

[nyraxodeyer]

"You don't have to justify it, I understand. And it's not your fault either, you were only trying to help." She looked back to him with a sad smile, an apology of her own gaming through, "I didn't see it happen, I'm sorry, I should've helped too. You, her, and others too." Had it not been for her own injuries disorienting her, and the nightmarescape she had been stuck in she likely might have been quicker in her feet. "I'm glad you were able to heal." Wishing to keep the mood light Nyra did not pry into it more nor did she tug up her sleeves to share her own burns, instead, she gave him a smile and continued in the current conversation. "Well, I'll still have to have repay the offering somehow to you then, to keep up the good relations between our kind."

[nyraxodeyer]

Individually those words made sense, but strung in a sentence the meaning was lost on her, maybe had she given it time to sink in it would've been fine but it felt like she had only blinked when a new piece of information had Nyra stare at Vanessa in shock. When the older siren had threatened with a storm for her quip, she had only laughed, brushing off the use of kid as a figure of speech of sorts, yet when she had said daughter, that was a little harder to sweep aside. "Wait...Did you say...daughter?" she trailed off looking between the two women.In all honesty, though the fact was surprising, it was hearing it only now that had Nyra shake her head with disbelief. How many years had gone by and she was only just told this? "Vanessa, more than the court you're the one ageing me about ten years." Mild exaggeration yet there was truth to it.

But as Savannah left to likely not return anytime soon, a sigh escaped her, "Yes, yes, I'll go," she responded to the look she got. Rummaging through her bag, she shook a little hip flask to Vanessa, "Nothing a little drink can't make better, right?" Not that indoors had been stuffy by any means, but the fresh air did seem to relax her a little as she walked over to the blonde, leaning slightly against the wall. "I have Tequila if tea isn't what you're in the mood for right mow." Though Nyra figured there where other issues lying beneath the surface of Savannah walking out, she decided not to broach that right away. She knew what it was like trying to figure things out after a regeneration; the memories, the years missed, new faces that were in fact not new at all, "But if Tequila isn't your thing...then the only other thing stronger is that damn pie."

Savannah raised an eyebrow, a soft smile playing at her lips as she gave the dish a once-over. “Oh, I didn’t reckon you made it, sugar. Looks more like somethin’ that found its way into your kitchen courtesy of a credit card," Savannah tilted her head, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips as she leaned in just a little, like she was about to let Nyra in on some grand secret. "Like somethin’ a neighbor a few sandwiches short of a picnic might be sweet talked into buyin’ to impress at potluck. But, what do I know?"

The quick reply elicited a deep chuckle from Vanessa's lips. An airiness surrounded the older siren who hadn't appeared to be this happy in nearly a couple hundred years. "Careful about who you go around calling old there, Queenie," Vanessa still managed to click her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "It certainly is a nice day, don't you think, kid?" She asked Savannah, before she turned back toward Nyra and teased, "It would be a shame if a nasty storm rolled in."

"Does it? And why's that?" Savannah's brow creased as she eyed the other woman with a tinge of disbelief. "Hm," She eyed Nyra cautiously. And there it was. The blonde was starting not to like the other fae she happened to meet. Each time she bumped into one of them, it felt she was having to walk a dangerous tightrope. One where they seemed to hold a far better hand while she had to fib her way through what few cards she had just to try to weed out a few sparring details of information. And the worst part of it all, was the way she felt about herself after the fact.

She didn't know much about who Sienna had been, but from what she had learned through glimpses of memories, whoever she used to be had been cold and cruel. She lured people in, chewed them up and spite them out like they were nothing to her and, as much as Savannah wanted to believe that she wasn't anything like that, every time she ran into another fae, she found herself putting up a nearly unrecognizable guard that had her second guessing everything she thought she knew about herself. Still the same, isn't she?

Fuck, she could use a drink right about now. Gritting her teeth, Savannah fell back to the corner of the kitchen. She moved to pour the two women glasses of iced tea before she moved to fix herself one, adding in a splash of something stronger into her cup when no one was looking.

"She wouldn't be my daughter if she wasn't," Vanessa offered up with an eased shrug, as if she hadn't just let that piece of information slip. A detail Savannah still hadn't even began to wrap her head around herself, tensing slightly at the mention of such. While she would forever appreciate Vanessa for letting her and her daughter stay in her house, it still didn't change the fact that this was all a little bit much to begin to wrap one's head around.

"Congratulations all the same," Vanessa offered up, lifting the cup of tea Savannah placed before her up in the air as if to toast her on the achievement. "Oh goodie," Sav added on, a thin smile stretching across her lips as she realized she had just mistaken the fucking Queen of the fae whatever that meant as a door to door salesman and insulted her to her face. She was really three for three here, wasn't she?

"Congratulations," Sav told Nyra genuinely, taking a sip from her own cup before she slide her chair back as the conversation was directed back at her. "We are all stocked up on tea, believe it or not and I wouldn't know, though, enough," She muttered under her breath, before feigning a gasp. Her eyes not bothering to even check the table as she exclaimed, "Oh heavens! Would you look at that- I went and forgot a knife for the pie. If y'all'll excuse me for just a moment," She flashed them both a smile, but rather than heading toward the kitchen, she slipped out onto the front porch, needing some fresh air, if anything, before she had to start back up with all the mind games these people in town seemed to adore so much.

"I don't think she's getting a knife," Vanessa let out a low whistle, glancing back over toward Nyra as she shot her a look as if to say are you going to go after her or are you going to make me wheel on over there?

[nyraxodeyer]

"Oh? I have to be careful now do I?" Her gaze grew icy. "Lucky for us I will not stumble. It was said with disbelief but you decided to take that on as a reprimand," she pointed out, "I did make it implicitly clear that I do not care what you do, and much like how I don't and won't control your actions, you don't control how I get to react to certain things, got it? You're not a child that I need to scold into good behaviour, but if you wish to take what I say as such a thing, then..." she shrugged, "You have free reign." If he took as some such nonsense thing as being unfairly treated then she did not have the energy to explain more. She'd have far easier time with an actual child.

"A comparison and a metaphor?" If she had wanted this to carry on beyond the point of annoyance, it'd be easy to point out that he had wanted to take that ring, wanted to burn her, wanted that vengeance to retaliate for what had happened at camp, something he said when she gone knocking on his door after those events and a thing he proved again now that he still harboured that resentment, but such thoughts rose and fell in her mind, washed away under waves of tiredness and futility.

She didn't say much as he spoke but at the thunder, at his insults, a little huff of a chuckle escaped her, "If we can't respect our own why would others? And if we were to be stuck with each other, you're the one that will hate it the most." She had no qualms about it, the issue she might have is that others, him, will be able to see her wounds and scales that were cutout with an iron blade. "Do you feel better now or would you like to insult me more? Since you're still hurting you feel entitled to such displays of behaviour, yet I dare not ask to you to watch your tongue otherwise I'm scolded and chiding you? Got it." Seeing no further point in being here, Nyra turned to leave.

Suresh grunted. "What bloody good would that do? Sounds much easier to simply go into hiding where no one can sneak up on me at all." He crossed his own arms, looking away, the portrait of utter petulance. "Except you weren't. Do be careful. You're skirting around the edges of half-truth, and well, we know what happens when we winged sorts start to stumble. You decided to chide me, your Highness. 'Shoes. You're not serious...?' That's what you sound like. Why don't we go into the shoe shop and tell them to shut down right now, lest they find themselves morally lacking?" He sniffed, turning back to face her head-on. "No, I am not. And yet, here I am, once again scolded."

Gritting his teeth, Suresh cocked his head to one side as he regarded her, his eyes narrowing. "I didn't take her ring! She offered it, and I didn't take it! The ring was a comparison. A metaphor for us all to pummel into the ground. Something I brought up because even you can admit being purposefully made vulnerable is a terrible bloody thing." He pressed a hand to his forehead, brow knitting. "And yes, yes, my feelings about Meena are complicated. Do I care for her? Do I want to find her? Of fucking course. Do I still feel...frustrated and humiliated by her actions during that godforsaken campout? Of course. She's not just someone I know either, love."

Looking up at the sky, then, Suresh gave an anamused huff. "Be cautious now. Or we'll both be stuck here in each other's company." His eyes taking on a glow of their own, he made a second thunderclap, louder this time. "Fine. Isn't that the point? I don't want to talk to anybody. But tell me, love, since when are we Fae worthy of respect, hm? Before or after they soaked us to win dodgeball, or in-between where they startled our horses on purpose? I suppose you wouldn't know, yours as high as it is and all."

[nyraxodeyer]

Brow shot up, "Tunnels? You?" She had heard word that Gia had been traversing in there but she had a hard time believing that Saleem was as well, so much that, a sharp laugh was huffed out, at that and what he carried on to say, "Water is my domain, why would I get lost amongst the currents?" Incredulity deepened into utter disbelief, had she less composure, Nyra was sure a bolt would have been summoned in less than a blink. "Excuse me? Would you care to repeat such a preposterous thing? She almost posed it as a dare, and were he to take up that challenge, well, she didn't know what she would do. "I swear Saleem you possess such a rare skill to annoy the ever living life out me in such a short span of time." Exhaling slowly she tried to keep calm and not let his foolish antics rile her up, she didn't come here to be entertainment. "Does a lighting bolt sound fair to you? That'll be my preferred way to answer. Thrice. Let's finally answer if lighting can strike something more than once."

Of course Nyra excluded herself; Saleem expected nothing different from her. Annoyance and bristled-teasing share the same room when it came to these kinds of things. It was difficult to tell if someone of his personality was even capable of teasing, and her huffing made him want to prove that he could. Hilarious, really. Then again, there was that streak of protection. Not wanting Meena to grow all the more tired as she needed to take the time to heal. Eventually, she would be able to set foot in her home again, and then she could entertain anybody she liked, and he could return to a NO VACANCY kind of visitor list.

"Underwater cave. I must have missed that exploring the tunnels. Make sure to get a map and bring it along when you show me. I'd hate for you to get lost on the way back out." He drilled his fingertips in rapid succession against his book, which was a quickened sound that passed near as the flutter of wings. At least she was going to placate him for now. He considered that good enough. But he would never tell her. "Three riddles, two answered correctly. Like the Sphinx in mythology." He fixated his face to refrain from giving even a hint of a smirk. Truthfully, he couldn't remember the last time he gave someone riddles. This had been a trick he employed during his travelling and rampaging to taunt. "If you get all three right, you get over thirty minutes of visitation time. Does that sound fair?" Ironically, if Nyra pressed him ( and he did anticipate this ), he wouldn't actually do it. Or would he?

[nyraxodeyer]

"You don't have to justify it, I understand. And it's not your fault either, you were only trying to help." She looked back to him with a sad smile, an apology of her own gaming through, "I didn't see it happen, I'm sorry, I should've helped too. You, her, and others too." Had it not been for her own injuries disorienting her, and the nightmarescape she had been stuck in she likely might have been quicker in her feet. "I'm glad you were able to heal." Wishing to keep the mood light Nyra did not pry into it more nor did she tug up her sleeves to share her own burns, instead, she gave him a smile and continued in the current conversation. "Well, I'll still have to have repay the offering somehow to you then, to keep up the good relations between our kind."

It was something he should've been used to. No one could help but notice. Some folks with more tact than others when they asked about the fresh scars that littered his forearms. They appeared weeks old but happened just a few nights prior. "When Poppy became... possessed," Jacob didn't know what else to call what had happened to the supreme and the fae; Billie. "I tried to stop her, and she burned me. One of my powers is healing, so I heal faster than others." It went without saying that it was an accident, yet he still felt the need to defend her. Perhaps because Jacob was painfully aware how bad Poppy felt about it. "It was an accident. She didn't mean to. It was my fault, really. I should've known better." The witch nodded to the fae queen's question about cooking with real food, as he began to eat. He thought it was an accomplished feat. A lot of people he knew couldn't boil water. "Yeah cause I love it so much." On to his next little treat, Jacob could only nod to Nyra's thanks at first. "Mmmm, yeah. No problem. Consider it an offering. You know. A sign of goodwill for future fae, witch relations."

[nyraxodeyer]

"Not permanently," she repeated with a nod, and slumped back into the chair with a tired sigh. "Worrying comes naturally when you go missing and come back in this state. You're the closest thing to family I have." Fighting to keep the emotions at bay, Nyra cast all the what ifs aside to focus on what was at hand– Meena was found and though safety could not be guaranteed, she was here at least and that counted for a lot.

It was a full body scoff that took over her, "Politics," she shook her head, "I don't care what anyone but you has to say about me creating a portal to get you out. They can hate me more than they already do, it's fine. You just say the word, I'll take care of the rest." Her gaze drifted over the recliner again and she had to exert effort to hold a shudder back. Noting the look Meena have her, Nyra huffed a little, "Please, accusations are warranted with him. He said I had to answer riddles and only on getting them correct would he allow me to see you." The eyeroll couldn't be stopped either. It was only to annoy her that Saleem had said that, she knew, but even then it had been in extremely poor taste.

"How about you just come to the hotel with me, please? I'm not saying that you aren't being looked after here but..." she trailed off letting silence speak for itself. Extreme drugs, recliners... the road to recovery was abysmal from what she saw. "Everyone did," Nyra answered, "Search parties kept going day and night." It had been heart-warming to see the town band together as such, though hope began to dwindling for some, they hadn't stopped till they were found.

"Just a little bit," Meena countered, holding up her thumb and her forefinger as if to symbolizing a 'little'. Meena let out a weak, humorless chuckle, her lips barely curving up before falling flat again. The effort it took to even respond felt monumental, her head leaning back against the recliner as though the weight of her body was too much to bear. And at Nyra's observation, a sigh slipped from her lips. "It's because I am. Dying, you know," She told the other honestly. "Not permanently, so there is nothing you have to worry about, but doesn't mean it's not what's happening all the same," She murmured, her voice rasping, dry from days of pain and whatever other torment had been inflicted upon her.

"You think I’d say no to a portal?” She tilted a brow up at the other. "But it's probably best we didn't. 'Politics' and all that," Another sigh broke from her lips as a tinge of annoyance flicked across her brows. She wanted water, sleep, and to lay on something that didn't make her feel like she was about to dissolve into a puddle, but she also knew that if the Fae Queen went and portaled the Clan Leader out of a vampire's abode, they'd both have far more shit to deal with than she frankly would ever be in the mood for. "I didn't say he did," Her gaze flicked up to Nyra, sharp even through her exhaustion. Even if he had along with Gia as well.

"Oh, I'm bound to overdose," She accessed. "But, that's the fun of vampirism, isn't it? I'll just come back after the fact regardless," She rolled her eyes lightly over at the thought. Her gaze finding it's way back to Nyra as she finally asked after a prolonged pause, "Tell me what I've missed? Who looked for us?", And who didn't? The last part hardly spoken out loud, but conveyed with her eyes. As much as she'd like a real bed, she knew what would help her more in the long run, over anything, was information.

[nyraxodeyer]

Lost in thought again, she only hummed in low murmur at what was said, and catching the tail end of a question, Nyra spoke a little absent minded, "Mmmh, yes, natural elements affecting supernaturals." If given a few more time she might have not looked so bewildered at what JC had said, or at least to a less of a degree, Nyra had been in the process of gathering her thoughts and lining them up in order to continue this conversation yet when he spoke up, she stared at him in disbelief. "Frothing at the mouth?" While she could agree that tensions were higher than usual at that meeting, but to imply they, she, had gone in there with the sole purpose of shutting down his ideas seemed a little to far-fetched. "What did I start with you? Your ideas were listened to and discussed. I didn't agree with some of it, yes, is that disrespectful to you now? A disagreement?" she questioned, "I took in what you said about being cautious for Fae, if I missed thanking you for it, I apologise. But for you to imply and comment that we weren't useful, that I seem to have memory issues, and apparently only showed up to the meeting to attack you? It's unfair on many levels. God forbid I make a throw away comment or disagree on what you said, yet Jake can snack, you can pass notes but I have to sit and be picture perfect composure and speak with emotions under control?" She had to scoff at that.

Could she share her mind now? Share her theories without being made to feel small about it all? Nyra stayed quiet for a minute longer. "Yes, this is a chosen position and but disagreements will happen? And some loudly too. This situation is more tense than most since Meena and Dhruv mean a lot to us, we all want the same thing. I've apologised to you in there and I'm doing it again now, if you felt slighted, I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll take it as incompetence, which sure, you can, but I was in a lot of pain, being burned by iron is not a feeling I've learned to push down yet…" she shrugged weakly, exhaustion settling in and throat growing irritated from the wound against it, but she carried on, "We're not against you JC, I'm certainly not. We're all working towards the same goal, but for someone that seems to care as strongly as you, you sure have a strange way of showing it."

Gritting his teeth, JC gave a shallow shake of his head. He rolled his shoulders, straightening himself up, before speaking. "Well, I recall concern about how precautions might impact the local economy, so...." He raised an eyebrow. But in truth, he found that there was so little left of his frayed patience remaining for the Council. In his estimation, they all seemed to wring their hands, attempt nothing, and then wonder why they have made no headway. "Tell me about it," he replied at last. "It's bad, isn't it? How so many of us can be taken out by a well-stocked greenhouse?" He sighed, nostrils flaring as his voice trailed off.

Júlio César shrugged. "Most things she does are with intention, yeah. I don't disagree with that. But be real, Nyra. You did start with me. You and the rest of them were just frothing at the mouth in that meeting. Come on." He scoffed. "If you have a theory, though, I'd love to hear it. You said it yourself. It's hard to separate the actual leads from speculation." He shook his head. "I don't know. You tell me. You said it. Jesus. Are we sure that barrier doesn't have a second-hand effect on the memories around here? Everyone in that Council would rather fight me than our enemies. Or sit there and complain about the inconvenience of a position they have willingly chosen. The handful of us are not the difference in a town-wide search, and yet we rushed out of there. I would have loved nothing more than for us to have gotten our damn act together and did our jobs. But I was overruled."

[nyraxodeyer]

A brow rose slowly as Aysun began to call her by the title she had dismissed moments ago, but at the correction expressions smoothed out into a smile, "Will that take you some time to adjust to? Calling me by Nyra and not a title?" she teased a little before settling into the chair beside her. Much needed rest despite the minimal effort exerted. "Thank you." As conversation dipped into the happenings of that night, she grew quiet in reflection. "I understand. It's not something that no one expects, yet, that scene, it had happened before." How they had let themselves be witness to such a thing again would keep her up at nught she was certain, but what else could they have done to prevent it? Precautions were taken, just, not enough by the looks of it.

"It's not uncommon, your style of upbringing, it's protection in a way if you think about it, could also be blissful ignorance, but magic has always been a gift." With a light flick of her wrist, Nyra conjured a small illusion, a golden butterfly fluttered about the room and around Aysun, and morphed into a humming bird a few moments later. It was in hopes to make the other feel a little better but also herself too, something lighter amidst everything. "While it's not always birds and butterflies, there can be a softness to it is what I'm trying to say. What you saw, the nightmares, the bloodshed, whatever horror that was released, it's shouldn't have been that way. But where there is light there's shadow. Two sides of the same coin. It's on the wielder to make that choice."

Reaching out, Nyra have her had a light squeeze, "I'm sorry that you had to see that," she said gently, "You don't have to speak on it off you don't want to, there no force here. It's hard to see such a sight especially if it's family." Sitting back again, she shrugged, "There's many reasons and there's none at all. Why does anyone do anything? It's because they can. I wish I had some way to ease your worries, but that scenario is over now that much I'm certain of."

Aysun gingerly scooted herself back on the bed, using the controls to lift the head almost completely upright so she could lean her good shoulder against it. The location of her burns and the stab wound made laying on her back difficult, half the reason she was hardly in bed was the discomfort. Once she'd gotten into as comfortable a position as she could, she noticed the other woman still standing and was quick to wave her closer. "Please sit down Your High- Nyra," she said, quickly correcting herself as she gestured to the chair by her bedside. At the mention of that night, Aysun fell quiet as well, her gaze falling to the fingers poking out of her sunny yellow cast. "I've...never witnessed anything like it," she said finally, shaking her head, "I...grew up quite unconventionally, I suppose you could say, despite coming from a family of Wolves. We...never really spoke about Supernaturals, so I...honestly didn't even know such magic was even possible." This had to be what the family Elders were talking about when they warned against interacting with the Supernatural, the evil powers they could possess- who knew what more they were capable of?

All Aysun could do was offer a hesitant little smile as Nyra called her brave. She hadn't felt brave then. She still didn't feel brave now. "Honestly I...I've been trying not to think about it," she said softly, chewing at her lip, "my mother she- I wasn't-" Her voice broke slightly, and she quickly averted her gaze, swallowing the lump in her throat. This was why she opted not to think about it. And why she pushed herself to stay busy even when she should've been resting. It was better than thinking. "It was just so...cruel...why...why would someone do that...? I just- I don't understand it..."

[nyraxodeyer]

The heavy eye roll aimed at him was well deserved in her opinion, exasperated and accompanied by a scoff, her expression turned slightly towards amused even at his insinuation that he could keep her from seeing Meena, "Adorable. I would love to see you try to actually stop me." While yes, this being his home, he held the right to accept or deny people entry, but Nyra excluded herself in this instance. "There's a cosy underwater cave that's been waiting for you to make a home in it for a hundred years. Are you in that mood for that?" In all parts the comment had been in jest, a truthful threat, but far too common and one that ran between them like most would exchange pleasantries, something she hadn't been driven to action on — yet.

With a huff, ready to defy his nonsense and strut past him, Nyra did pause her movement with a glance towards the direction where a set-up had been arranged for Meena's recovery, something she did not want to intrude on or disturb. While she knew he had Meena's best interest at heart, taking his word came with much deliberation on her part but in the end, she did take a seat, willing to wait albeit only a short while before she went to see her friend. "How very kind. What's the price for your generosity?"

"Well, well. Another visitor that I must disappoint." Whether or not Saleem was the one disappointed would remain a mystery except to the vampire in question. He barely glanced up from his reading, a pastime he allowed to fall to the wayside but now was picking back up due to the need to remain still. "She's occupied and not in the mood." He debated on asking for three riddles in order to pass through to the parlour where Meena was often posted for her visitors, but wasn't in the mood to be that kind of difficult. Whether good for him, or Nyra, was also anybody's guess. He had been in strange, particular moods since her recovery. "But if I must extend my hospitality, you are more than welcome to sit and wait with me." And I might have you waiting centuries, if it suits me — he didn't remark this. / @nyraxodeyer

[nyraxodeyer]

Attention might have been on the grin that played on his features at first, her own smile brightening at the sight but her gaze along with his dropped to the burns marks across his arms, her expression falling in the process. "How did that happen?" She had noticed it earlier but not wanting to bring in case it was a touchy topic, she couldn't help the question now, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to." She looked to her own burns hidden and covered away from prying eyes. "Generic descriptors," she commented, "I kid, thank you for the kind words." She hummed a little in agreement, "I can't fault that. Food is always a good idea." Feigning shock she looked to him, "Cooking? With real food? A man of talent!" She couldn't help but tease and while this was all fun, the implication or even maybe him thinking there could be a date out of this could not be made reality. "Meetings with food suits me just fine." She hoped that defined and gently set the limit of their relationship this only ever could be professional. "You're sweet to get all this, thank you."

Before Jacob could admonish that teleporting was both a skill that got him out of and into trouble, Nyra iterated his thoughts. It made the witch grin. A goofy expression he wore upon his return to the table, and that grew in width and stupidity at the fae queen's taunting. He paused, genuinely considering if the reward outweighed risking the wrath of Poppy. What's the worst she could do? His eyes flickered down to the shiny, pink scars that marred the skin of his exposed forearm. Markings that stretched all the way up, and proved what Poppy could do. Would she though? A wonder he gambled on when Nyra asked if she was special.

"Of course!" The promptness and exuberance of Jake's response could've read disingenuous, but he doubled down. "You're smart, pretty, too. Kind yet honest." He didn't know her well enough to know that with certainty but assumed as much intuitively. "I don't have many professional meetings, but they do usually involve food, because I like to eat. I can do better, for an actual date, though. I can cook! You know? And not just from frozen! Real food." A ramble, he'd admit, born of nerves. Helplessly a flirt, yet still just an idiot man.

[nyraxodeyer]

"I think one bell around you should suffice rather than multiple for the whole court. Make sure you move around or be subject to more scaring." The tirade of nonsense that began to spew from him as he continued had her cross her arms and look to him unfazed, though she could feel temper rising at the tone of utter disrespect, she controlled it under curled fists. "Wonderful, you're done," she spoke through gritted teeth, voice fizzing with barely contained irritation. "You want to look for her inside a shoe stores or hidden coastal caves, by all means do so, I was fine with letting you be. Disbelief at your actions can and will still happen, everything you do, good and bad, is a surprise to me. I do not require a list of good deeds you do either, we've already established that after the camp activities. If you're looking for a well done I'll give it to you but as you've said you're not a school kid." Yet he certainly acted like one, and she knew this was futile conversation while he was in this mood of his only led to more arguments but it was a challenging to stop. "It was you saying you were going to take her ring, after knowing how much it means to her for ridiculous deserved vengeance nonsense that irked me, because if it slipped your mind Meena is not just someone that I work with." She was the closest thing to family that Nyra had and to find this out, how could irritation not rise to meet it.

Control slipped a touch as her eyes flashed for the briefest of seconds, clouds above them darkening as the smell of rain rose only to settle moments later, ground dry and blueness returning the sky as if there had never been a threat of a storm hen he spoke about Billie, deemed that to be the last straw, her wings unfurled ready to leave before she actually made it thunder. "Much like you Suresh, I don't need you to tell me what I should and shouldn't worry about. But what I do need from you is to check your tone next time you speak to me. If it's not with the respect I deserve then don't fucking speak to me at all, understood? Find someone else to be the dartboard for your anger, I'm far too exhausted for this."

"Well, it's mostly you and Kui, to be frank, love. Perhaps we ought to tie little bells to the whole court so everyone knows who's bloody coming and going." He narrowed his eyes before making a point of looking in any other direction than at her. "Well, I can't lie. And we all still wear shoes, don't we? Or has the recent bout of nonsense freed all our feet for posterity?" Suresh scoffed, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms before looking back into her face, his own unrattled. "You do realize my relationship with Meena does not involve you, don't you, love? It's not official Council business, and I do not need to check in with you to gauge how I speak about it, thank you." In truth, Nyra happened to simply by the nearest outlet toward which he could channel his own frustrations about the situation. But he had never been a noble hero sort before this; he saw no point in starting now.

"No shit," Suresh replied, clicking his tongue. "What do you want from me, Nyra? Do you know I've also been swimming the rocky edges of the shoreline? Looking for sunken corpses or abandoned vessels? No, you don't. Because that's unpleasant. But I have been. And I did go into our neighbors' dreams. And I did help corral everyone out of the inn when the vampires eyes went black. So forgive me for wanting a new pair of goddamn loafers. Because I have more than contributed to this godforsaken hovel we call a town, and I shan't be admonished like a nursery schooler for not smiling as I do it. Why don't you worry more about the little blonde siren who turned into an evil goddamn robot that night?"

[nyraxodeyer]

"It is indeed," she sighed knowing the feeling was felt in some way, "Clothes are a great example actually, expression comes in many forms and fashion is and always will be a big part of it. Outward appearances might not always be internal reflections but impressions are formed at first glances, everything is a choice." She couldn't say she was truly at ease, not when she still remained inside her dreams delaying reality of the outside world a little longer, but an ease did settle in and around her.

"That's entirely fine, not many do, my fate could've been entirely different had I not been born a siren, my first language in a way was of the waves." As the scene shifted around them, voice and movement stilled replaced by a warm smile as a brightly lit room came to existence, a much welcomed and greater comfort than the rubble it had superseded, pulling her knees together Nyra settled in, she rested her head gaze drifting out the window towards the shore as sunshine warmed her, "A perfect medium, thank you. The wildness is the attraction point for me, something that can be so rough can also be so gentle." Turning to Kui she posed a question, "Where do your heart and mind travel to find a moment of peace?"

≽·≼

They nodded, as Nyra regained her composure. They could tell it was practised, but didn't consider that inauthentic, at all. "I get that. It's what draws me to making clothes, I think. The ability to choose what part of you is displayed to the world is very appealing." Calm seemed to settle around her, affecting the dreamscape too, giving everything a sense of stillness.

They didn't want to bring to mind the injuries Nyra sustained in the real world—just focusing on the dream instead and pushing it gently into a different shape. Sea water infused the air, the ruined town receding at the edge to reveal the Cove, waves shining a light green-blue, reflecting a clear sky. Kui turned to survey it, uncertain. "I haven't formed much of an attachment to the ocean, honestly, aside from living here and some time in New York I don't have a lot of experience it... It still kind of unnerves me, when it's wild. But I can imagine something like..." They let a room form in their mind, starting with a wide open bay window opening out onto the shore. Brighter sunshine streaming in to warm their skin as they found themselves sitting on a comfortable padded window seat beside Nyra, lace curtains pulled by a light breeze and a table laid with an earthenware tea set. "Is this a happy medium?"