#or you could ask solitaire about it's history???? (complicated cannot promise he will cooperate he hates ceremire)

[celestialtrolls]

The Moment I've Been Waiting For

-- thalassicCounterpart [TC] has started trolling calmedStorm [CS] --

TC: Aelynn. TC: I know we SSaid we weren't going to discuSSSS THingSS I find in THe fleet SSySStemSS anymore, but I THink THiSS iSS important enough to warrant a... deviation from THat rule. CS: urghhh dude i woke up like 10 minuteS ago, can a bitch at leaSt get dreSSed before you Start trying to tell me Some dire newS? TC: Aelynn, it'SS about THat carnival.

---

"What message warrants your presence on my property, child?"

"My queen, a suspicious observation vessel has been hovering nearby for quite some time now, and some of our members have contacted us to say there is strange fleet activity in the city to our north-east." A nervous looking purpleblood with a clipboard gestures vaguely with a pen in the aforementioned direction, their eyes fixed to the grass under their feet in the presence of the Queen of Hearts, not noticing the slight furrow forming in her brow as they speak. “More people are arriving each day, and security has increased considerably around their shipyards and spaceports.

There is a long moment of silence in the garden, broken by a soft exhalation from the Grand Highblood as she stands up, looking up to the mostly clear night sky, away from the messenger who finally glances up.

"Is that so... What drastic measures they're preparing to take against our good citizens, hmm?" Her smooth voice sounds almost concerned for a moment, but at the end she can't help herself from letting the grin reach her words. "Finally... I have been waiting for this moment. The empire truly is so lenient towards their precious carnivals these days, I wondered if they would ever find the resolve to target us."

Authority enters her voice as she returns her attention back to her audience. "Spread the word that our people's safety is only guaranteed while they're within my walls. I cannot protect them if they decide to leave and observe from afar - However! Send our three primary performance groups out, one to each of our surrounding cities - incognito for now. They know their roles already, I want them to be prepared."

Shadowy figures fade from dark corners between the nearby houses, but one shadow manifests as the sound of heavy garments and jewellery grows closer. "Creator?! What is the meaning of this?" A masked troll sprints over, his voice laced with panic, contrary to his elegant appearance. "If they send warships, how are we supposed to fight back? We don't have those kind-"

"Hush, darling Jack of mine." Ceremiré turns, making a shooing motion to the messenger troll who scurries off with their orders before steepling her fingers and her glowing purple eyes settle instead on the source of the interruption. "There will not be even a lick of flame or single bullet that will pierce our home, do not fear. I have been preparing for this since taking out that... empire spokesfish."

Her words do not settle the fidgeting of the Jack of Hearts, who picks at the seams of his robe, glancing up to the sky as if ships were due to appear any second. "Th- That was the regional emperor..." Is murmured under his breath, but the clarification is lost on the grinning queen.

Ceremiré steps forward, placing a hand on his shoulder, staring straight through the eyeholes of his mask, eyes glowing purple as the air shimmers around them. "It's time for us to truly make our mark on this planet. Suits Carnival will become more than just a settled troupe of purple subjugglators and former misguided followers. It's time someone showed Alternia that an empire built on the waves is no foundation at all."

His shoulders tense, the feeling of unease tangible despite the mask hiding his face. "...Ceremiré, answer me plainly, I beg of thee. Are you intending to rule this planet? Dethrone the empire? Are your ideals truly that lofty? I fear that your sweeps spent dead have given you a false sense of our reality."

The air stops shimmering, freezing as it hangs around them, more of a choking fog than a beautiful aura as her expression turns dark. The Jack's breath catches in his throat as the Queen's oppressive gaze bores straight into him, like the maw of a bear clamping around his head, and then, as capricious as the wind, it all fades away as Ceremiré spins on her heel to take a few steps further into the garden behind her quarters, away from the light.

"You truly are bold." It doesn't sound like a compliment, but a threat, and her face is too obscured by shadows to tell her true intention. "I chose to settle and I built our city here for a reason. One neglected region, with no natural resources of its own, no profit to be made... Not even a single living cavern. How much does the empire really care for it? How long will they lay siege until they recognise it as a waste of time and resources?"

"What if it's just about the principle? What if it ne-"

Jack of Hearts’ voice is cut off mid-sentence when Ceremiré clicks her fingers, and they frantically grasp at the mask as crystals form in the space and fuse his mouth with the carved wood, silencing them.

"That's enough. You will learn not to doubt me after this."