#meryasek.

[farenduil]

September 2023

mentions of @meryasek, @aegnorx, @yaviefey, @wintersaurora, Titania, & more

"Parents got divorced when I was, uh, five years old And I saw my father about three times a year after that And when he found out that he had cancer, he decided to To bring me here and he gives me this big pink seashell And he says to me, "Son, the answers are all inside of this" And I'm all, "What?" But then I realize, I realize that The shell's empty, there's no point to any of this, it's all just a A random lottery of meaningless tragedy and a series of near escapes." - The Pink Seashell, Fall Out Boy

The news hits him and it's all just another blow, but it is perhaps the hardest one to take. After every loss he asks himself how much more can he afford? If the people he cared for were gold in his pocket, it'd be empty. Or it had been emptied time and time again and he would cling to them a little tighter, those that remained. He felt as if he never got the chance to. Time was such a strange concept over the years and he'd unwittingly thought he had so much of it. And yet it was never going to be enough. Mortal, he sits on the beach where he and Mery used to walk along. His brother would run up to him with all of these shells in his hands and he would kneel in the sand and look at each one with genuine awe. Some of those shells sit heavy in his pocket now and he swears they are anchoring him to the very earth. Without them, surely he would just float away.

Things had been different between them as they grew, over what must have been the last few months but the time might as well have spanned centuries. He'd gotten to see that boy turn into a man, into a prince, and then into a king and he'd tried so hard to protect him from everything and so he'd coddled him like their mother had. Farenduil, in an ever present grief that he now knew he and Titania shared over Aegnor, he had underestimated him. He'd been a good senator despite not wanting the position, he'd been a good man, he'd been a good king. He'd been a good brother. When he had been at his lowest, Mery had been there to catch him, hoist him up and shake him around and remind him he wasn't a failure until he let himself be. His talk with Titania, what he imagined would be the last one, had remedied that to an extent. He had her love, and Mery's too, Yavie's, potentially Aurora's, the twins in their own way, maybe even Aegnor's if he could find it in him to really sit down and talk with the man. And yet he can't do much of anything. He can't even bring himself to leave the forest despite the fact that he has no real place in it anymore. He wakes up in the cabin, Emma's tomb, and he goes to his desk and gets out some paper and he writes letters. He'd done that on the ship after Yavie had gone over the edge, he had put letters in bottles and gently dropped them off into the ether, as if his warder would get them. He writes down everything he should have said to Mery, begins each piece of paper with 'Dear Brother', and it's almost mechanical. Healing in some way to draw from the empty shell that is his body and just pour whatever is left of him onto the paper. He tells him that he is sorry that he could not be better, that he could not be of more help, that he had not been there in the end. And then each day he goes to what he thinks of as their beach and kneels down at the water's edge and he gently sets the glass bottle containing the letter in the shallows. He sits in the sand, he watches the waves take it out further and he finds it soothing. No matter how angry the waves seem to be some days, they carry his words gently, he watches them bob on the water until he can't see them anymore. He thinks about interrupting meetings for a boy tugging on his sleeves, he picks flowers just up the beach on the grass to send in the bottles. He thinks of that first masquerade where he was drunk and happy at the edge of the dancefloor as that disco music Mery loved played on around them. He goes back as far as remembering when he'd first laid eyes on the child, when he'd been so sure he couldn't possibly feel much for a new brother after losing Aegnor. But he'd looked at Mery in his mother's arms and he had the exact opposite reaction, he had thought that no one would ever hurt him, not while he was around. How wrong he'd been. He goes home when it gets dark, prepared to do it all again the next day. Knowing that the one person who had never given up on him was gone and that now he had to carry on for him anyways, because it's what Mery would have wanted. He would continue on him, even if his magic was gone. He could live for that boy he'd carried around the halls of the palace and told stories to, that he'd watched make flowers grow. Farenduil goes home and he waits for what feels like a miracle, for yet another gold coin to be returned to a pocket that's full of only shells.

"So I take pleasure in the detail, you know, a A Quarter Pounder with cheese Those are good The sky about ten minutes before it started to rain A moment where your laughter becomes a cackle And I sit back And I ride my own melt"

[aegnorx]

where. somewhere in the forest who. @meryasek​

There was blood on his hands, and no matter what path he chose for himself, that would always remain true. He had been under the influence of Ayi’ig, had fallen prey to the hate that had been cultivated since his rebirth within the Underdark, and he had killed in her name. Eladrin who had once favored him, who had viewed him as the king that they would have welcomed with open arms once Titania had stepped down from her throne. Eladrin that had been his friends and family, some even his lovers, and he had slaughtered them without so much as a hesitation. Perhaps that is why the others stared at him so, with concern in their eyes over a drow that walked their forest. This was not his home, nor would it ever be, but his concern could only be for the king that they did have, for the one that would look out for them. “Meryasek,” brother, the name was more suited to his tongue than anything else, as he approached the other. “I do not know what sort of apology I can give you,” nor how he could right all the wrongs that he had committed against his people, their people.

[aegnorx]

There was much that Aegnor was still learning, about himself and about the Lorendrow. And what it meant to lead them. He had been schooled by his mother on what it would have meant to lead the Eladrin, as had he known what it was to lead the drow under Ayi'ig's instruction. Something told him that his new leadership would be unlike either of those moments within his dual lives. "I wonder whether I even had a choice in the matter," an easy joke as he eyed his brother, before he nodded his head.

"Obviously, Aegnor. I wouldn't just say you." VIP's were welcome first, of course, but he supposed he'd welcome the other's, too. Their Court would grow, it would become a home for those who didn't have one, or perhaps didn't feel like they belonged to each of the other ones. Either way, it was a perfect place for Aegnor. Plus, his brother had to listen to him. It was a win win. "Well, you in or what?"

[avengingsoranus]

@meryasek location: Dawn Court entrance to the Daemonfey Court notes: hello?

Horrible things had happened to the Court in his absence, but after Justice's breaking Soranus had felt... Broken too, in his own way. Slowly he'd pieced himself back together into whatever shattered version of himself remained, but still, Meryasek had been his King, and before that Soranus had been something of a midwife to Titania. He'd welcomed Aegnor, Farenduil, and then little Meryasek into this world.

His hand smoothed over the side of the cave, Soranus' eyes teemed with regret as he looked towards the chancellor of the DaemonCourt. He understood the other's need to strike out on his own, to make something of his birth, Soranus had helped deliver his children so of course he knew that need for independence. "I should have told you about your father." Soranus knew because of course he'd known, "Mery, please, forgive me I was sworn to secrecy."

[darethxshiral]

@meryasek​​ location: Fairy King’s Forest notes: post plot drop

The tremor had come from the Otherworld, through the shadows Dareth had slipped away to investigate but couldn’t find anything beyond the devastation that had wracked the realm in the past few months. Spirits wailed and twisted upon themselves, the sky rippled as if it was protesting some great affront and everywhere Dareth looked he saw signs of decay. Fixtures that mirrored the mortal realm were fading away, statues that had been there since his childhood had disappeared, buildings that had appeared over the years were fading away like a memory. 

When Dareth returned to Meryasek, it was with urgency. It was no secret that the drow had been excavating, but their efforts were having consequences that clearly extended beyond just the court. “You were right,” Dareth said, “the tremor came from beneath the court, I didn’t want to risk trying to enter-” the drow could only assume more precautions had been put into place since Aurora was broken out of the prison. “but the Otherworld parts of it are just... disappearing.”

[wardernirvaan]

closed starter for @meryasek​ location: the fairy king’s forest note: are you my dad?

The forest was for protection. Nirvaan knew he had to stay there to make sure Aurora was safe. There was no part of him that thought she desperately needed him, but he would have been lying to himself if he didn’t think she was a second away from breaking down at any second. He wasn’t sure if she was holding it in or didn’t want to acknowledge it, but he wanted to always make sure she was okay. Hence why he had been looking for Dareth to get more training in. He still had to make his sensei’s replica axe, but he would always have time for training. Instead of running into the drow though, he ended up face to face with Meryasek. “Oh. Hey, Mr. Fairy King...Sir. What’s up?”

[echionx]

@meryasek​ location: forest’s edge notes: bending his knees kween

“I knew your mother well.” Echion offered, he’d met her during his time serving the false God Ares, Titania and the original vampire had been... fond of one another, but that's none of his business. “I was sorry to hear that she’d left this realm behind,” the demigod, along with so many of his kind, were vulnerable now after thousands of years of protection. He was curious as to where Titania would have gone, and why, but that wasn’t why he was here. The senate had insulted her and her people, the drow had pushed the fey from their home, now a son too young for Echion to have met previously stood in her place. 

[astralyavie]

@meryasek​ location: yavie’s super secret underground lab/lair in the catacombs notes: don’t look behind the curtain

Truthfully Yavie couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to the forest, there was something about apple picking with Lia, and then he’d stolen one of the Otherbeasts so he could take it apart here in his lab. Remnants of Theneras’ research laid scattered about his workshop as half defunct articles and innovations laid dissected or in pieces. A bionic man strewn in pieces across a slab, a donation from The Eye that Yavie had picked up off of the streets, tanks of various creatures kept in stasis. Inventing was fun but not as fun as learning, Yavie had realized that knowledge was power and in the many months since Theneras had filled the sky with his lights had resigned to aspire towards even greater heights. Elves and fey and drow and wolves, everyone was so obsessed with the past, in reclaiming things that were already gone: Theneras had seen the future. 

A loud explosion made Yavie jump back before he heard someone clear their throat behind him, his bond long masked, the fall eladrin turned to see the King stood there in his doorway. Blood magic the least of the fey’s crimes as he moved to throw a blanket over some of his workstations, arms spread wide before he leaned hopelessly against the wall. “Mery-” Yavie chirped, his voice breaking, “It is so nice to see you, do you wanna go for a walk somewhere?” 

[micahwright]

@meryasek​ location: castle labyrinth notes: uncle lovin’

Breaking pressure had brought them to... Wherever or whatever this place was. Distantly it reminded him of the fairy court, when Emma had transformed him into a beetle and left him in a cage. He’d come through and narrowly escaped but everything was just slightly off. An inkling that Micah usually felt from somewhere in the crown of his head felt off somehow, like the faiman was having a hard time from telling up and down. When he looked up he saw a myriad of staircases going in each direction, portraits that shifted across the walls like building blocks and windows that looked like two mirrors held up to one another. “What the fuck-” Micah said, wide blue eyes not even noticing his uncle next to him until he looked down again. “What’s going on?”

[warborniphigenia]

who?@meryasek where? the wedding reception

Staring is far too rude, and she had been raised with better manners and more cunning to make her interest as noticeable as that. She doesn’t doubt that Mars’ son knows of her glances, the high elf’s clairvoyance likely alerting them of it, but she keeps them subtle enough that as she weaves through the crowds, he will likely not be able to identify who the gaze is coming from until she stands before him. For a long moment, she considers not doing so, for she still does not know enough about his relationship with her sire, but cowardice is not one of her vices, and in this case a direct approach might work better than her games. At the end, she settles next to the Chancellor of the Daemonfey and inclines her head in greeting. “Congratulations on your nuptials.”

[davheira]

who? @meryasek where? Daemonfey Court, Audulë  notes: doing the randomize top songs thing and got warriors by imagine dragons

"Do I have you to thanks for my new ambassadorial post?" Davheira asks as he steps further into Meryasek's court, eyes looking upward and taking in the stars with fascination. Truly, Meryasek had outdone himself on the realm. He couldn't wait to see what Dareth and him would come up for the wedding. "And do you have music for your nuptials? Because I can play all of ABBA, as you know."

[farenduil]

Person: @meryasek Location: That Dang Beach "I almost don't believe it." He says as he comes up the over the small hill and trudges onto the beach, sand shifting in his wake. It is the same thing he has done every day for what feels like weeks, but this time, there, sitting on a rock near the ocean, is Meryasek. Farenduil thanks whatever deity out there that had brought him back, whoever had granted him yet another grace. But he thinks now that surely this is the last miracle he is privy to. He perches himself on another rock nearest his brother and he sees the protruding horns atop the head of the man that is probably his dearest friend aside from Yavie. They sit there both different now, in ways that he couldn't even begin to describe and it feels like a moment completely removed from time, like once more he's in a dream. "I have come here each day, hoping to find you." His tone is calm, even, but the tension in his shoulders he's been carrying his gone.

[thegoodfellow]

who? @meryasek where? Laurelin, Audulë  notes: doing the randomize top songs thing and got raise hell by dorothy

"How is the wedding planning going?" She asks as she settles next to the fey'ri in one of the Laurelin's branches, offering a cluster of juicy grapes as she uses her magic to occasionally pop some of her own cluster into her mouth as she keeps her gaze wandering around the Laurelin branches and beyond, into the glimpses of the courts that they can catch through the leaves. "Did you set a date?"

[emmawrxght]

@meryasek​ location: Fairy King’s Forest, Emma’s Memorial notes: a treat for me pal

They said that terrors were feral by virtue of their resurrection, that when a soul went to the Inferno it came back wrong, no matter the form. Emma didn’t think that could be true, but feral creature she remained. Gabriel was missing so she was resolved to find him, whether he be a corpse or something else entirely. The ghoul would not rest until she had an answer that was not just a vacant stare and a message on an answering machine. There was one person she knew with resources and power enough to encompass the hope of her search - her uncle. Feral desire caused her to drink from the wellspring of magic that inhabited the forest now, the fog seeped into her skin, the changelings that approached the strange creature buckled as their magic was drawn from them at the ghoul’s presence. It felt strange now to be a thing that could hardly be touched by the armies of Rome. Mortal and only killable again by mortal means. 

Stranger still to stand in front of the grave and watch the charmed tree slowly wither in her presence. The elvish inscription only loosely translated by her base knowledge of the language. Somehow Emma knew that he’d come, either by detection of intruder or by virtue of their shared connection. Farenduil did not know that she lived, neither did Aurora, or Micah, or Cloe, or Emory for that matter. She wasn’t ready to face them, or for them to see her like this. A horror, a monster. A terror. 

“This place-” Emma sighed at the presence of such formidable magic, she looked towards her uncle and fought inherent desire to lay hands on him and drink everything that made him unique among the fey. “its changed.” The former faiman might have rejoiced once, but now it was an agony that the ghoul had no choice but to bare. 

[thepraetor]

who? @meryasek​

where? the edge of the boundary to the faerie’s queen forest

It’s been months since Cloe last talked to Meryasek. She saw him at the Funeral, but with all the people there and with his new position, she had a difficult time approaching. She had meant to approach him earlier, fueled by her out of character paranoia and suspicion of the fey she had grown to call her friend, but luckily she had been too busy with her losses to reach out. In a way, she is relieved. Grief had pushed her into doubting those she cared about, and she fears what would have happened if she had the time to meet him while the world still felt like it was collapsing around her. Her grief is still palpable, but it is manageable now, the paranoia induced plans long gone.

“Mery,” she greets with a nod and a tired smile. “Sorry for the radio silence on my side,” she offers, then hesitates. “And it comes late, but condolences about your losses.”

[darethxshiral]

@meryasek​ location: Little pocket space  notes: kiss kiss fall in love

“The senate is meeting, planning in the wake of the events at Mercuralia.” It wasn’t as though it was a secret, but Dareth wondered where the court would go from here. The drow was not without his designs, confessions he’d whispered to Meryasek in the dark and between their sheets. Words he’d so far only offered otherwise to Aegnor as well. Dareth would kill the Queen, assassinate her in a manner that the Drow would have no choice but to recognize. Under Lloth the strong survived and the weak died, murder, deception, and cruelty were welcome allies. Things that the drow possessed in spades. He’d gone cold long ago, the darkness only let him come into himself more. “When they’re done, they’ll turn their gaze towards us. They always do.” The fey sat on land swept up from under the senate in the wake of chaos, stolen and hoarded. Now enchanted and well-fortified. If nothing else, he wished to know the King’s mind on these matters so that Dareth might align his own to Meryasek’s thoughts.