#rivah getting into the real shit over dinner and annalise is like

[corrunuptia]

❛ no one notices your tears, or your pain. but they notice your mistakes. ❜

get mauled by the queen ( closed. )

♚;

----------------black eyes like fine gashes on the queen's face focus on the priestess, a fierce shiver making every muscle of her tense. her long hands are rigid on the arms of the chair, clawing at the cloth. in fact she almost rises, ready to pounce like a great white lioness, though wisdom halts her charge.

' that thou shouldst utter these words before us... we have heard of thy divine wisdom. it seems now as though it may be foolishness, ' annalise hisses between fine lips.

nevertheless, at the back of her mind the words swirl, and the clear aroma of their truth calms the queen's anger. she settles into her chair again and lets out a sigh. indeed her every decision as cainhurst's regent is scrutinized, analyzed ten times over, and most certainly criticized. but when she herself suffers, there are none to witness her tears, and even fewer to wipe them away.

her eyes trail to the bounteous food that lays between them, enshrined in elegant silverware. none, except...

no, not even him. in her pain she has always stood alone.

' thou art right, of course, high priestess. we cannot begrudge thee thine observation, scathing as it is, ' annalise sighs, relaxing. she brings a golden chalice to her lips and drinks thoughtfully. when she next looks at rivah it is with piercing, spider-cold eyes.

' we simply ask that thou dost not forget thy station. cainhurst is our land, and thou art our honored guest. '

in an instant her face changes, and annalise gives a wide and genuine, fanged smile.

' shall we have dessert, then? '