#ravkahq:starter

[zhuliun]

open ( @ravkastarters​ ) 

SAINTS BE BLESSED AND CURSED FOR PLAYING SO FLIMSILY WITH LIFE AND DEATH IN A DAY MEANT TO CELEBRATE THE FORMER, of the many heartbeats gone silent all at once alike candles blown away by a violent gust of wind and something human yet not human fallen from the skies with a bloodcurling noise that had him for once decide for any plan to crash into a fancy party for fun to turn into a quick retreat before anything could drag him into its brief crossfire, tremors of knees a reminder of an old but never forgotten fear.

a khergud ... it couldn’t be. it just couldn’t be. he hasn’t seen any of those in years, remembering still of their inhumane screeches in the back of his mind at every nightmare shaking him awake, and yet ... it was the only response to all his doubts.

“ i need to see that thing. ” but he had no right, the traitor ! he really had not, just like he shouldn’t have been there to those confines separating him from little palace’s grounds --any access to sensitive data being forbidden to one like him whose head was wanted for public hanging, only for him to take if violence of blades and twisted bloodflows would’ve been so swiftly applied ; but he wanted not to resort to hurt someone this time, knowing best how it wouldn’t help his ( already lost ) cause. “ i know it’s too much to ask, but i ... i need to see it. ”

[heartsck]

where: the ball, near the bar when: early in the evening who: open! @ravkastarters​

The grisha was far too sober for the number of people who were here, a point that became all the more clear as she recalled the number of grisha’s in the little palace and compared it with the crowd. Being told your whole life that you are only worth something if you are grisha will fuck up a kid, and while she’d never admit it, Daciana was far too uneasy by the inability to easily sort the guests into proper categories. This situation was veering dangerously close to feeling entirely out of her control, even though it was still early. And so, she did the only thing that helped in times like this - use her power.

The servant was unlucky enough to catch her attention, tray laden with empty glasses they were discreetly trying to remove from the ballroom - she wasn’t a monster, she’d never waste perfectly good drinks. With a sharp jab of her hand, Daciana caused the muscles in the servant’s right leg to suddenly tense which in turn sent the servant and their tray tumbling to the floor, the glasses shattering with a satisfying clatter. The heartrender smiled, and then realized she was no longer standing alone. Without quite removing the cruelty from her smile, Daciana turned her head to the newcomer.

“Your costume is incredible.”

[fckjia]

the one thing jia didn’t like about masquerades, is that some people became too confident. masks didn’t entirely cover up faces, but their egos did not seem to care. she leaned against a column, her rolling her eyes as a young grisha tried to swoon her with his abilities. she was used to this kind of attention back in life in shu-han, but here, jia felt like she deserved more. “as interesting as that offer is...” jia murmured politely, just as a handmaiden would (even though she wanted to kick him), “i am actually...” her eyes fell to the nearest person. in no time at all, she linked their arms together. “in attendance with them, so i’ll have to decline your offer.” her eyes shot to the person besides her, wondering if they could back her up or not. even if they didn’t, jia could always make a break for it and hope to get lost in the crowds of people. 

[grishaisms]

He shouldn’t be here. Zhuan knew that. But when had that ever stopped Zhuan from doing something? 

Short answer; never. Things probably would be easier if it had. But alas, that’s focusing on the past, and well, that took too much energy. So instead of doing that, Zhuan was just vibing. That was a lie, all of this was a lie, really. He had one mission. But he wasn’t going to come in guns blazing. He wasn’t suicidal.

Anymore.

So instead he was going to play the innocent, as if the urge to burn everything he touched wasn’t pulsing though his fingertips. It was fine, he didn’t belong, and it was very easy to play on that. Big eyes, head tilt, approach the first person you see.

“I believe I’m a bit lost. I was wondering if you could help me?” A sheepish smile followed his words. All an act.

[ohsaiints]

@ravkastarters

𝐓𝐇𝐄  𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑  was  within  his  own  little  world  .  a  stick  in  his  hand  as  he  wondered  through  the  forest’s  trails  .  he  saw  many  wander  through  the  forest  ,  to  get  away  from  their  kaptains  ,  general  or  to  just  get  away  with  a  lover  .  but  thomas’  was  on  a  mission  to  find  his  wife’s  .  .  .  god  he  didn’t  even  know  .  anything  ,  something  to  show  that  he  hadn’t  done  anything  cruel  .  thomas  wouldn’t  hurt  a  fly  .

he  startled  ,  whipping  around  .  “  hello  ?  ”

[somewhatambivalent]

@ravkastarters​

adrian was not someone who could stand still for long periods of time, whenever he wasn’t required to as a guard at least. so standing in the mass of masked individuals, he was desperately looking around the ballroom trying to find something to do, knowing there was no point in trying to identify anyone. eyes falling on the couples moving about elegantly in the centre, an idea was starting to form in his mind. it wasn’t something he’d share with anyone freely, or talked about openly, but adrian secretly loved to dance and he wasn’t too bad at it either. now all that was left to do was find a dance partner.

as a spy it was probably not the best idea to stand out, the dance floor probably one of the most visible spots of the ballroom. however, adrian trusted the outfit he’d chosen, and the mask would both allow him to blend in and hide his identity enough.

approaching a beautiful masked lady who happened to be on her own at the moment, adrian offered her a charming smile, holding out his hand for her to take. ‘’I’d be honoured if you’d join me for a dance.’’

[fiinagle]

sleeping in strange places. for anyone who knew him this was a normal habit of his, however to those who did not, it could easily come across as a coping mechanism, a consequence of the attack that had taken place. 

he’d started the night with a good book and a glass of kvas, a second standing next to his in case someone decided to join him. soon enough night turned into the dark hours, the last soul having left the place long ago, turning off the last source of light in the library, save for the one on the table he was sitting at. dmitri remained, having dozed off in one of the armchairs. although from the way he was sitting it looked like he could still be awake, as if he’d closed his eyes only to rest them for a moment.

a sound to his right startled him awake, instinctively reaching for their lungs, angling his hands together, removing the air from them as he manipulated the organ. realising the person who interrupted his sleep was not actually a threat to him, not at the moment at least, dmitri released them. 

‘‘shouldn’t you be in bed, you know, sleeping?’‘ pretending the incident hadn’t happened in the first place, dmitri reached for the bottle of kvas on the table, pouring the both of them a drink. ‘‘sit.’‘

@ravkastarters​

[akslnya]

she knew there was something wrong — she had mocked of an assassination attempt on the darkling with that young guard, of how no human with the right mind could do it, and now, it seemed she was being proven right : it was no human being terrorizing the otherwise peaceful spring fête. but leyla could not care less who the wrongdoer was ; all she could think of were her three very young children within the little palace's walls, likely trapped in a dormitory with her mother - in - law, possibly under very imminent danger. "get in or get the fuck out of my way already," she spats at no one in particular, every muscle in her body itching to make her run upstairs.

@ravkastarters​

[thesrpent]

the gardens ( open )  @ravkastarters​ 

it was no secret jedda had trouble sleeping, most of her nights were spent tossing around the bed before she decided enough was enough. sleep never came easy to her, and she had stopped chasing it years ago. instead she walked, she roamed the halls of the little palace, and spent her time waiting for the first rays of sunshine to break through the sky. tonight was a peculiar night, for the past few minutes jedda has sensed the presence of someone else in the gardens. nothing odd, except that she had the feeling they were following her.

“you know...” she began before she disappeared into the bushes. the thing about the gardens of the little palace was that at times they could turn into a maze. too much green, too many trees and bushes, too many places to hide, if you knew how to make use of them. “if you’re trying to sneak up on me,” her steps against the grass were as good as silent, after all, she took after her teacher. jedda moved quickly as she made her way through the garden, stepping out of the bushes to now find herself right behind the stranger. “then you’re truly doing a miserable job.” she said as she waited for them to turn around.

[latespriings]

open   starter.

@ravkastarters​​

CIRINA   HADN'T   EXPECTED      to   stay   in   os   alta   for   as   long   as   she   did,   and   even   more   surprisingly,   she   hadn't   expected   to   warm   up   to   the   place.      it's   not   a   surprise   that   the   ravkan   capital   would   be   far   more   luxurious   than   even   the   finest   houses   in   the   geldstraat,   but   while   she   did   enjoy   the   grandeur   of   it   all,   cirina   admittedly   missed   the   hustle   and   bustle   of   ketterdam   at   any   time   of   the   day.

        (      she   wonders,   often,   how   the   exchange   is   faring.      she's   done   her   fair   share   of   investing,   of   course,   but   it's   hard   to   keep   track   of   international   news,   especially   on   the   account   that   it   would   have   to   cross   the   unsea   before   reaching   its   destination   in   os   alta.      )

what   she   hadn't   missed   from   her   hometown,   however,   was   the   inability   to   take   long   walks.   os   alta   might   not   have   the   charm   ketterdam   has,   but   it   did   have   one   thing   :   safer   streets.   truly,   a   walk   through   any   street   of   her   hometown   meant   pickpockets   at   every   corner,   and   that's   just   the   optimistic   outlook.   cirina   supposes   that   she   has   grown   quite   used   to   her   daily   walks   around   the   city,   often   stopping   by   shops   to   look   at   their   wares.

"   we'll   be   making   a   stop   at   my   favorite   fabric   shop   before   we   return   to   my   residences,   "   cirina   informed   her   companion   in   perfect   ravkan,   "   i   suppose   i   could   have   a   servant   do   my   errands,   but   i'd   rather   much   prefer   picking   out   the   fabric   personally,   plus   i   love   haggling   with   the   women   at   the   shop.   "

[fckjia]

jia could never understand how some people had so much while others had practically nothing. now that she was far away from the menagerie, jia was faced with all the glamour and glitz of the little place. as the queen’s handmaiden, jia saw riches that she could never imagine. part of her backstory was that she was adopted into a affluent family, but of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

while the queen was occupied with the king, jia snooped around the room. she paused upon seeing a beautiful silver and sparkly dress, no doubt one of the back-up dresses for spring fête. hesitating for just a moment, she lifted the dress and pressed it up against her body. she admired herself in the mirror and did a little twirl. however, when she turned around she was startled to see another person. “i...” jia licked her lips. “can we...keep this between us?”

[stcrmhold]

the gardens feat. @ravkastarters​

TASHA FAVOURED HER BLADES, EVERYONE KNEW THAT; but a grisha was supposed to be flexible in every conceivable moment — the revolver in her hand felt heavy and foreign, despite so, she took her aim. one shot, and then two, she didn’t have to move closer to know that only one of them hit an outer ring of the bullseye. a string of elegant swear words were muttered under her breath, barely noticeable over the voices of trainees on the other side of the garden, as she turned to refill the bullets into the barrels. “a sixty-five percent success rate, saints, that’s basically a failure.” 

[infuriiate]

one moment had been full of laughter, dancing and drinking, the next astrid felt something rip into her side before her vision turned to black. when she gained consciousness the first thing she noticed was a pair of hands putting pressure on her wound. ‘’what the hell are you doing?!’’ slightly disoriented, she pushed them away instinctively. astrid immediately got up the second she realized what was going on. an attack, they were under attack, their home was under attack. starting to walk away in the direction of the danger, she stopped for a second to look back. ‘’well, are you coming or not?’’

@ravkastarters​

[ohsaiints]

𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐊𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑’𝐒  𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃  boiled  .  he  was  sure  ,  very  sure  ,  if  you  dropped  some  of  his  blood  onto  the  pavement  it  would  sizzle  .  his  shoulder  was  cut  from  an  attack  ,  his  pants’s  hem  was  no  longer  tailored  to  perfection  and  his  face  was  covered  in  dirt  .  he  stayed  above  ,  his  powers  proofed  useful  .  but  even  has  the  monsters  drew  closer  to  him  he  knew  .  he  also  needed  to  flee  .  he  wasn’t  good  to  his  army  dead  .    

his  years  of  training  allowed  aleksander  to  move  ,  attack  and  get  to  the  door  ,  open  in  and  close  it  behind  him  .  “  numbers  !  ”  he  shouted  ,  moved  down  deeper  into  the  ground  .  “  how  many  have  we  lost  ,  how  many  are  injuried  and  who  the  fuck  didn’t  ring  the  alarm  bell  !  ”

[somewhatambivalent]

Why he had been given a break during an event, he couldn’t tell you but adrian was sure glad for it. It gave him time to put his thoughts in order, and to keep an eye on the grisha in the messhall from the corner of his eye without needing to worry about playing a role or being a rigid mannequin against a wall somewhere. putting down the glass of the drink he’d just finished, the sound of approaching footsteps made him crawl back into the role of guard, with a touch of adrian flair of course. ‘’Is the fête boring you already?’’ 

@ravkastarters​