#&. — 𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐇 ❪ interactions ❫ .

[fataviam]

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞   . . . the balcony of the house of wind.     𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡   . . . sabina khoe   (   @supernva  ).

an ebullient high fae bounded across the stones of the outside balcony. adorned in a glimmering, silver gown, niamh thought herself the mirror image of the cosmos hovering overhead. thus, glowing under the light of the stars, a smile greeted passing faces, making their approach towards the balcony's edge for a better view of velaris below. the music piles from the earth, golden notes glittering and dancing their way up a spiral staircase until, seemingly, they disappear into the starlit sky. a cool night breeze caresses their face, lifting the waist - length, onyx colored hair to reveal delicately arched ears, decorated in silver gems matching those that dripped from every surface of her body.

sharp eyes took in the current, tranquil environment as a chance to relax their tightly - held shoulders. her thoughts kept returning to her sister ⎯ callista ⎯ and how delighted she would have been in this moment. the sight of the stars paled in comparison to faint memories of her effervescent smile. a melancholic grin played upon their lips as her gaze returned to the throngs of people wandering around the high lady's house. did their beloved sister accompany the spirits on their yearly trek across the sky? had she come the brightest star hovering overhead, keeping a keen eye on herself and . . . sabina. as if callista had created this moment for the two to lay eyes on each other for the first time since she had left them.

faint clicks of heels echoed off the stone floors, heart racing as she drew nearer. the commander's eyes narrowed on the woman, stony expression suddenly softening as they realized she had found a kindred spirit to share their company. ❝ would it be out of character to tell you you look radiant tonight? i hardly recognized you without blood smeared across your face. ❞

[fataviam]

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞   . . . the house of wind.    𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡   . . . somnus einar.   (   @calamitydealt  ).

her purpose here as emissary was being overshadowed by the anxiety of the night ahead. the eight surviving members of thunderstorm were within the bounds of velaris for what felt like the first time in a century. niamh's continuous refusal to take their place in the summer court and their fear of being confronted by the hazy memories of murky waters made this all new to her. if she had gathered enough courage to talk to sabina, maybe her trepidation hadn't have taken so much of a toll. but, that was before setting eyes on somnus : mate of the high lady of the night court. her hands clasped together, as if desperately gripping onto those of their found family in the face of terror. emissary, their inner voice shouted, taking steps towards somnus with grace and poise, displaying a bright smile on her face.

❝ the night court suits you. ❞

[fataviam]

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞   . . . rita's.     𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡   . . . aziz zorlu.   (   @cosmicbluds  ).

reluctantly, niamh had left the house of wind at the request of her high ruler. she was confident that her night would have been spent peacefully gazing at the stars, enjoying fae wine, and having hushed conversations with the faces of their past. but, they were quickly reminded of their responsibility while in velaris : to mingle with nobles from the other courts so they might willingly align themselves with the summer. the eldest cousin of the high ruler had reminded her of this solemn duty. so, she followed the sotars obediently to rita's, to indulge in the night court's annual celebration.

although they felt uncomfortable, she was silently grateful that the shimmering gown allowed for breathability. had it not been the case, she would have surely returned to her temporary domicile this far into the night. with an exasperated sigh, she left her watchdog post and found an open seat close by, where she could rest for a moment. it almost as if a hand pressed against her cheek, forcing her icy gaze to settle on the man sitting nearby. a preternatural urge to share in his company. her eyes lit up with recognition, a cheeky smirk curling the corner of her lips. ❝ enjoying your night, shadowsinger? ❞

[fataviam]

           𝚂𝚃𝚁𝚄𝙸𝚃 𝙸𝙽𝚂𝙸𝙳𝙸𝙰𝚂 𝙻𝙰𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙼𝙸𝚂 𝙲𝚄𝙼 𝙵𝙴𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙸𝙰 𝙿𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙰𝚃 ; when a woman weeps, she is setting traps with her tears.

[fataviam]

perhaps it is the overwhelming feeling of doom leering over their shoulder. perhaps it was the facing of her inner demons, staring in recognition at her from across the room. or perhaps, it was having to front a smile and pretend that all was well in the tumultuous place that was their mind. but a deep set frown had taken the place of the emissary's usual charming smile, no longer flitting around velaris as if she was personified air . . . the tension had settled in the upper parts of her spine, jaw clenched as she steps within the house of wind.

cerulean gaze settles on the person hovering near the entrance to the home. examining the delicately arched ears, the long limbs, and the sheer radiating night that seemed to pulse from her very skin, niamh knew who they were confronted with. place nice, that inner voice reminded her, despite the rather cantankerous mood she suddenly found herself in.

❝ of course, high lady. what better way to welcome people to your city. ❞ her words are acidic, biting in a way that may have been unintentional. but within the recesses of her mind, a mason was putting up a wall, brick by single brick, refusing to allow niamh to show the kindness they had become so accustomed to.

𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐋𝐋 !

velaris is set alight with the sound of laughter and chatter, festivities taking place on every street corner and every home. it is a blessing to be able to share it with the people that rhaeya loves, and to see her people in high spirits. starfall is something she holds dear to her heart, and when she looks up at the skies, she is certain that her father is smiling back down at her.

still, peace is fleeting, and having so many people in her home sets off something terrible in her stomach. anxiety tugs at every muscle in her body, and it is hard to ignore.

rhaeya folds and unfolds her hands together nervously, moving quietly through the house of wind as her guests trickle in. her eyes fall across every face that enters, ever vigilant, and she keeps a warm smile plastered to her face.

" i hope you're enjoying yourself, " she says, greeting the next person to enter. " we have the best view from here. don't want to miss it. "

[fataviam]

exploring the finest of velaris' pleasure halls was a far cry from what niamh had originally planned for their first night in the city. but how could she resist? from the streets, one could feel the pulsating beat of the music, smell the sweet fae wine wafting through its doors. she knew a good time when she saw it. before long, she was captivated by the atmosphere ; hips swaying to the sound, prythianites dancing away without a care. when they decide to take a break and clear the fog settling in their mind, her azure gaze fell on a smiling, familiar face. if all reunions could be this joyful, maybe they would survive the summit after all.

❝ only if you join me. ❞ the commander quipped, her candor tinged with an edge of sarcasm that only found family would recognize as amusing.

open starter for anyone !

it was the most gorgeous reason for an escape. velaris was thriving and so full of alluring and joyful faeries and more. there was so much to see from the vendors on the streets and the beauty of this night had completely occupied her mind. morena wanted to lose herself in the starfall and that she was starting to accomplish by having one too many glasses of wine and dancing her heart out with the locals in one of velaris finest bars. she was taking advantage of this celebration and so it was a very rare sight to see morena looking so cheerful.

she took the opportunity to take a break from all the dancing right upon seeing someone she thought was a familiar face on the sidelines. " hey, you. how are you enjoying the night ? " she asked over the music, filling the crowded space. " are you thinking about joining in ? "

[fataviam]

two predators circled each other, daring to tease the line between professionalism and danger. it was an invigorating experience, watching the expertly laid traps snap shut as he spoke ; their eyes alight with some sort of wonder as to how far they could spin this web before catching themself in it. ❝ i find my lies to be rather . . . alluring. ❞ the serpent's tongue wags, voice barely above a whisper, their words only for zacreus to hear. ❝ but for you, high lord, my truth might be more intriguing. i don't think i'm alone in my discontent for this show. ❞ her own intrigue peaked as he followed his statement, removing her own lingering gaze to lean against the railing of the balcony once more . . . wait for another appropriate moment to strike. ❝ do you offer the same professional freedoms my high ruler does? ❞ / @dcrkening

her words were like a seductive whisper and zacreus couldn't help to fall into the trap she was creating. he'd fall and then he'd prepare himself to counterattack, to climb back up and over-power the creature which had lured him in. "which one is the most intriguing?" he asked with a devilish grin as they seemed to have moved closer to one another, both serpents ready to bite the other, for the smallest piece of information or recognition. "I wonder-" he murmured to himself and let his eyes fall from hers. "perhaps you would've been better in my court." he mused with a grin. she wouldn't change her fealty, he knew as much - but there was no hiding in what one might've wished for was it free to take.

[fataviam]

attention to detail caused niamh to notice the quirk of sabina's brow, the hard set to her jaw as they dared to mention the high lady. they made a mental note of it, deciding to press that button after she ensured that what had happened . . . that sabina was okay. it was what callista would have wanted. otherwise, that semblance of doubt would have sent the commander on edge, sirens blaring in their head of what line they would continue to toe. ❝ that's what i wanted to hear. though, hearts are still intact ; i didn't take it that far. be reasonable. ❞

dark brows stitched together, assessing the appropriate way to gauge her second's well - being given the circumstances. it was obvious, signed by the expression written across sabina's face, that whatever she had seen had touched a nerve. such a ' glorious night ' for her court to be shredded to bits as she collapsed to the floor in front of everyone ⎯ a spectacle of the danger that hovered above their heads even now. if she could hold her tongue, if they could refrain from adding to the interrogation, they would. just to ease her mind.

a pale hand reached forward, taking hold of sabina's ⎯ a desperate display of some sort of humanity that still resided within. ❝ you're okay? ❞ / @supernva

Sabina's  brow  flicked  upwards  at  the  quip  that  may  or  may  not  have  been  in  bad  taste  about  her  high  lady  ,  giving  Niamh  the  very  beginning  of  a  warning  in  her  eyes  while  she  questioned  Rhaeya's  proclivity  for  violence  .  But  then  ,  even  despite  the  pit  of  dread  that  had  opened  in  her  stomach  ever  since  she'd  had  her  vision  ,  Niamnh's  raucous  words  had  the  hint  of  a  smile  on  her  lips.  "If  you'd  wait  two  seconds  for  me  to  tell  you  I  would  have  said  that  I'm  pretty  sure  I  could  bounce  a  coin  off  your  ass  in  that  dress.  How  many  hearts  have  your  broken  tonight?"

The  seer  knew  the  real  questions  that  were  most  likely  on  Niamh's  lips,  those  surrounding  the  way  she'd  collapsed  in  the  midst  of  the  pitiful  Starfall  viewing  .  With  a  wave  of  her  hand  ,  Sabina  motioned  for  Niamh  to  let  them  flow  .  A  sigh  crept  from  her  before  she  said  ,  "Give  me  the  overbearing  questions  already  .  I  know  you're  dying  to  ask  .  "  At  least  she  had  some  semblance  of  control  if  she  was  the  one  asking  for  them  . "Do your worst ."

[fataviam]

they hadn't expected joyous reunions amongst her found family. instead, she had expected them to be rather stiff ; awkward. in the half century since their parting, the eight of them had lost touch almost completely. whether it had been the aftermath of the war, the pursuit of peace, a need to forget what they had done, or her own lack of trying, niamh didn't know. they did not dare press the issue. instead, they had mastered winnowing, taken her role as spymaster, and in collecting information on the inner workings of other courts, ensured that they were okay. it hadn't been enough.

as soon as she had spoken, niamh regretted it. the twitch of her upper lip always gave away the sheer inability to sink their teeth into a lie ⎯ she had hoped that he forgot. ❝ she greeted me at the door. ❞ they expressed, recognizing the scent that emanated from his very being. her brow gave a dangerous quirk, alluding to how much she enjoyed that conversation. ❝ she's lovely. i'm happy for you. ❞ / @calamitydealt

He could understand if she had a list of questions waiting for him. Nowadays, it seemed like everybody around him did. People were normally suspicious of him, or curious. Most of the time, it was a mixture of both. Somnus couldn't blame them. In truth, this entire year had felt like a bit of a blur. Things that led up to his official mating bond spurred so quickly but as he always liked to answer, he felt no regrets toward the entire process.

Somehow hearing her say she was satisfied with her life made him feel like it was a partial life. Perhaps it was just the pessimistic side of him that liked to convince him otherwise. Before he could answer, he was slapped in the face with what felt like the hot topic of the year. "That would be right." His brows furrowed together at her immediate reaction afterward, provoking a slight tilt of his head. "Perhaps I could introduce you two unless you have already met?"

[fataviam]

niamh was intent on recognizing everyone who deserved the acknowledgment. in the night court's arsenal, plenty of illyrians inhabited the inner circle, offering their people, their expertise, and keen eyes to their high lady. but they had paid special attention to the shadowsinger. she had seen him briefly before when she had made a clandestine visit to velaris to ensure the safety of her own court. he remained so well hidden in the darkness of the night, suddenly thrust into the limelight with the summit being hosted on home turf ⎯⎯⎯⎯ he had her attention.

❝ like calls to like. ❞ niamh's lips pull tight, an icy smile creeping through a curtain of demure charm as she extended her arm. a vision of shadows swirled and danced around her, ebbing and flowing like a tide before fragmenting and disappearing in the same moment. their lack of control over the illusion is met with a ' hmph. ' niamh's cerulean gaze, ablaze with unbridled curiosity, returns to aziz. ❝ or maybe i just know things . . . though i'd happily hear your beautiful singing voice. ❞ / @cosmicbluds

it   wasn't   odd   for   aziz   to   lurk   in   the   shadows,   his   shadows   were   around   him,   like   they   always   here.   it   had   taken   aziz   a   full   century   to   reign   in   his   shadows,   they   used   to   radiate   off   of   his   in   thick   blackness,   now   it   was   more   contained   to   his   body,   swaying   in   a   breeze   only   they   could   feel.   but   today   with   so   many   around,   he   didn't   want   many   people   to   see   the   full   extend   of   his   power,   he   kept   his   shadows   close,   like   an   old   lover   or   a   secret   that   could   change   the   fate   of   worlds.   he   knew   there   was   another   shadowsinger,   and   honestly   aziz   was   looking   forward   to   meet   someone   who   might   understand.   but   he   had   little   luck   so   far   in   finding   them.

aziz   looked,   or   rather   his   eyes   moved   hearing   the   words.   shadowsinger.   it   wasn't   as   if   aziz   had   never   heard   the   word   before,   but   it   felt   different   coming   from   the   high   fae   sitting   at   another   table.   with   an   eyebrow   raised   aziz   opened   his   mouth.   "what   gave   it   away?"   he   asked,   softly   but   his   eyes   lit   with   mischief.   "the   shadows?   or   my   excellent   singing   voice?"  

[fataviam]

as if a switch flipped in niamh's mind, the need to dig into such precautions they had heard so much about became a pressing need. to understand how to maintain her secrets and delve into information that came straight from the high lady . . . avi might have her head for it. the ghost of smirked toyed with frowning lips, azure gaze assessing the high fae stood before her. do they dare press the issue?

eyes seem to follow the gesture, taking a very brief moment to acknowledge the night skies above before stepping into the house. ❝ niamh aromdee. ❞ they answered sharply, lips pressed into a firm line as she assesses the room. ❝ is it true you have wards against winnowing here? it is . . . unfounded. ❞ / @ofnightcourts

there is an obvious shift when rhaeya greets her next guest. unlike so many others, she wears a frown that accentuates her clear distaste. whether it is towards the high ruler herself, or towards the event taking place, rhaeya cannot be sure. but it does little to affect her mood, and rhaeya finds herself grinning ever wider despite the tone the other takes when speaking to her.

" of course, " she says, gesturing to the skies above. " it is only right that you're able to witness the beauty that we have basked in for so many millenia. it would be a shame to live your life without seeing it at least once. "

rhaeya motions for her to come inside, her shadows oozing at her feet. " i didn't quite catch your name, " she says, head tilting to the side as she takes in the features of her face.

[fataviam]

niamh is a little taken aback by the embrace, melting into the familiarity of morena's scent ; her kindness overshadowing the pulsating beat of the music filling the air around them. for once, a genuine smile can be found curled into the corner's of their lips, long arms wrapping tightly around her friend's shoulders as if she would never let go. ❝ oh how i've missed you. ❞ the elder said, voice betraying them in a near whimper as emotion arose. even now, morena held that same charm, pulling at the heart strings frozen over nearly a century ago. after a moment, niamh withdrew from the embrace, hands placing on either side of her face as she looked her over, overtly examining morena for any noticeable damages changes.

❝ i'm sure he's fine, i've yet to find any of my court amongst the celebrations. ❞ arms return to their sides, beaming smile still outshining the somber look present on the spymaster's face. ❝ how are you? the day court? still enjoying your perpetual schooling? ❞ / @fxerily

" my ray of sunshine, i am finally reunited with you in the darkest of courts, " the greeting in morena's immediately matched the tone in theirs as she wrapped her arms around her friend. to her it seemed as though it had been such a long time since they had seen each other. she had subconsciously grown so close to niamh after so much trauma faced, having found family in them even more than the others of their little group. she often feels as their little sister, seeking niamh's validation and always wanting to do right by them most of all.

they had exchanged letters to keep in touch, but it was nowhere close to the energy that lived between them eye to eye. " before we go dancing you have to tell me how you've been. how is your high lord ? you know, how i love tea. " morena reached for their hand and gestured for them to find a more quiet place to chat.

[fataviam]

niamh felt a deep despair as she readjusted to the comfortable familiarity of being near sabina, a remnant of old grief flickering in her heart. thunderstorm had promised so much ; what could have been if only they had stayed together? they painfully imagined how the pieces of each other that had been chipped away could have been put back together again . . . and yet the thought of her family, both found and biological, ripped from her grasp, continued to haunt her even now. but niamh shook off these painful thoughts and resolved to make the most out of their time in velaris despite it all.

sabina was a vision of starlight, a perfect representation of her home in the night court. truly, it would have been foolish not to feed into sabina's mischievous ego ; a whisper of a smile crossed niamh's lips as they realized just how long it had been since she'd seen this side of her comrade. a chuckle slipped through niamh's lips, heading shaking her smile seemed to whisper, ' how could i have been so stupid? ' yet, a compliment is exactly what would ease them back into this familiarity. the calloused back - and - forth always had outside perspectives questioning the validity of their relationship . . . but, through thick and thin, this had always remained strong.

❝ may have been in bad taste. i believe i could get away with it, but your high lady seems to prefer . . . less violence. ❞ said the emissary, onyx hair tossed dramatically over a shoulder. they turned around slowly so that her friend could appreciate the summer court style dress she was wearing ; a custom - made gown tailored to fit niamh's outrageous standards. ❝ and me? i think my ass looks exquisite in these jewels. ❞

There was a reason Sabina hadn't seen her sister in arms for fifty years , but she hadn't a clue what it was as she approached the fae that was watching the fabled spirits falling from the sky . Perhaps as good as reason as any would be the way Sabina's chest tightened as a too-familiar curtain of dark hair fell down the shoulders that were all too similar to the ones she'd cradled, cried on, and kissed . It was appalling how the similar timbre of Niamh's voice could send Sabina reeling fifty years back, making nearly half a century seem like nothing as a fresh wave of grief struck in the night courtesan's heart . It knew that this wasn't the woman she still loved but only a distorted reflection of her . And yet...there was a painful comfort in the familiarity of having Niamh around . With them present it would be harder to forget the things Sabina was terrified of losing— such as Callista's laugh and the crinkle of her nose that happened just before she smiled .

Guilt pooled in her stomach as the thought crossed her, knowing that she owed Nia far more than seeing a memory of their dead sister in their eyes . After all , they themselves had been siblings of a sort— found in the family they'd made on the battlefield and before it . So while Sabina's still broken heart cried for release she put a smile to her lips before doing her best to fall into the comforting familiarity of Niamh rather than the shadow of Callista . "Out of character? I'd be pissed if you didn't tell me how good I look," she teased, relaxing into a vocal cadence that didn't quite align with the one she'd used with the rest of the party . With a feigned sigh she looked down at herself before saying, "I worried as much. I thought of shedding some blood just so you'd be sure it was me- but I figured that wouldn't be the best move as the newly minted Night Court emissary . Unless you suggest otherwise?" She asked the question as if she were seeking the wisdom of another emissary , still trying her best to find herself with Nia instead of lost with Callista .

[fataviam]

hesitantly, niamh finally allows her gaze to settle on his ; always having known that one look would allow her inside a person's mind, to know their intentions. but his gaze returned no information. purely serpentine within the resplendent look he gave. perhaps this was the man whom she should have sworn fealty to. the wolf within lunged forward, intrigue lacing into their voice as they spoke. ❝ would you like to hear my well - spun lies, zacreus? ❞ niamh quipped, lips erupting into a saccharine smile. ❝ or the truth? ❞

as she confirmed his suspicions he smiled again, a light nod to his head as he turned his attention to the outside once more. there was no mistaking that the spymasters knew more than most courts wished for, but then again every court had them, prepared and armed. " I am," he replied rather quickly. he didn't really find these festivities all that enticing anymore, but not showing up was a bigger insult than anything else - and he was not going to insult the night court, he'd rather be on their good side. "could you say the same niamh?" he knew her name, of course, he did. as soon as her identity had been cleared the name wasn't difficult to place.

[fataviam]

the spymaster surveyed him with a cool expression before responding. ❝ you are not mistaken, high lord. ❞ they said in a level voice. before coming to the night court, there had been an extensive preparation process ⎯⎯⎯⎯ niamh knew all of the faces, scents, and auras of each high ruler and their inner circle. she silently thanked their high ruler for their trust. moving stealthily in and out of the courts, winnowing in to catch sight of her targets and disappearing as they pleased, proved to be incredibly helpful. a faint smile quirked the corner of their lips as they addressed him again. ❝ i do hope you are enjoying your time tonight, zacreus. ❞

as they turned towards him zacreus realized he was in the company of the summer court emissary. he hadn't spoken to them before, but zacreus had come prepared to the night court - he didn't like showing up without knowing in whose company he might end. "this is?" he said with a question and walked forward, peering out the huge doors she seemed to have settled in. "hmm-" he cooed and watched the skies from above before turning to her, watching her eyes, watching her in a way which would feel uncomfortable to most, but as a high lord being able to understand who's the company you were keeping was given. "you might be right-" he turned so his figure stood straight towards her and a knowing smile was upon his lips. "you are the emissary of the spring court or am I mistaken?"

[fataviam]

niamh had lingered on the balcony of the house of wind for most of the celebration, trying to chase away the darkness that threatened to consume them ; not wishing for anyone to see their growing frailty. the weight of being assigned as the summer court's emissary weighed heavily on their shoulders, wearing her down and forcing her to hide away from prying eyes. she would gaze at the stars above, admiring the beauty of them in the night sky ⎯ enjoying the music drifting up from the city below. though there were few distractions that could draw her away from this place, one interruption invaded her peace ⎯ the presence of a high fae male whose power thrummed even in her veins.

their mind whirred as she realized who stood before her ; the high lord of the day court. his reputation preceded him. if she had been more sentient, they would have allowed their guards to raise, to heed the commander's voice telling her to play nice. but the pair was too relaxed in the moment. steeling herself, niamh forced a polite smile and replied, ❝ of course not, high lord. this is the best view in the city. ❞

closed starter for - niamh aromdee - @fataviam

the never-ending crowds of fae and their courts had zacreus searching for a breath of fresh air, of course, the balconies were crowded with people making his mission for silence almost impossible until he came upon the staircase towards a library. the smell of books making him feel better, thinking of home and the hours spent perched above words. A sigh escaped as the high lord ascended the staircase, walking down from the night court's beautiful skies - seeking what little solace could be found in such a place. however, at the entrance door, a woman stood - perhaps seeking the same as him. his curiosity was sparked and with his head held high the thought of finding solitude dispersed. "am I, not the only one seeking a minute's silence?" he mused, cocking his head to the side, wondering who needed to breathe outside of clashing courts.