#sparkledcrowns.

[slivertm]

"it is, isn't it?" it feels horribly juvenile to give the dusk librarian her word that she won't leave a mess in their facilities. after all, for all her life, lavinia had never really been asked to compromise her wants in regards from rules. from the daughter of a high lord to a high priestess, she had never been refused. her musing was for manners, rather than anything else true concern. she waves over an acolyte stationed to remain by her side for this purpose, asking them to make arrangements with librarians to bring refreshments to them. (despite not really being that hungry). "despite being a smarter fae than i, would you care to break bread with me, general?"

☆ﾟ*·ﾟELIAS RAISED HIS eyebrows at her comment, actually quite displeased with it. eating was very important, especially when you were spending your time in the library doing research. it was very easy in situations like this to forget to eat and take care of yourself. "i always make sure to bring snacks with me if i know i'll be in here late." he knew that the librarians didn't necessarily like food in there, but he was always incredibly careful. shrugging his shoulders, he now wondered a similar thing. "i think if you promise not to spill, they might. don't see why not? it's the perfect place for tea actually."

[ethercvl]

closed starter for @sparkledcrowns ( ellie )

adelaide's   costume   was   definitely   something   that   she   had   thought   of   in   keeping   to   her   job   throughout   the   festivities.   the   dark   dress   covered   in   feathers   helped   her   blend   into   the   shadows   of   the   poorly   lit   gardens.   however   that   didn't   stop   her   from   stepping   into   the   path   of   her   friend.   the   youngest   of   the   day   high   family   was   someone   that   adelaide   had   grown   up   with   after   her   adoption   into   the   hightower   family.   "ellie,   are   you   having   fun?"

[feathcrcd]

@sparkledcrowns

the wooden floors were glowing in a thousand small shards of glass, illuminated from the light of fire from the grand fireplace in one of the common areas of the wing celeste had a chamber assigned in. there was a girl visibly distressed bent down and rushing to cleaning up the mess on the floor. was it an accident? a mistake? what did it matter. celeste overlooked the girl's work, content to see her inch as far away from her as possible, inspired by fear of annoying her any further. the sound of glass against the wood was interrupted by steps loud enough that made the peregryn turn on her heel, glass crunching under her heels, reminding her of the sound of snow crunched on the pavement outside. " elias, " she spoke, her eyes sparkling in the small amount of light that made itself available in this space. " we did not wake you with this mess, did we ? "

[alaradraven]

location: dusk court. isolated part of the library. time: midday. with: @sparkledcrowns ; damon.

BEING a scholar for the Night court was hard. Read this, translate that, it was hard work for a lady of her delicate constitution - but, she loved it. She loved being surrounded by books & papers & pens, & she made all her little notes in various glittered colours. Whoever said scholars had to be dull, obviously never met her.

The worst thing about scribbling things down was the posture - her neck & back were killing her, & not to mention the cramp in her right hand from continuous writing. Sitting back on her chair, Alara rolled her neck & massaged her palm for the tension to leave, when she suddenly got the sensation she was no longer alone in that part of the library. She could hear various fae traipsing around the more populated area, but she came here for solace & work.

Still, she was never the one to pass up on an opportunity to meet new people. Tilting her head to the side, she asked, loud enough to the newcomer to hear, but not loud enough for every other arched fae ear to catch.

"Are you looking to spy on our hosts & their obscure lives as well? Here I have a rather interesting scroll about their Dark Mother & I'm confused. It's similar to ours, but her character seems... well, dark. Not much of a mother in my opinion."

[slivertm]

"shrimpier than the adriatic sea," he says with a pleased laugh. the punch wasn’t so bad. there was maybe a little too much punch to it, but it was better to go big than hold back. sienna just needed to work up to something stronger. "that’s okay though. you're not strong yet. i don't expect you to be. muscle needs time to grow." she was a lady by profession. despite the shifting world, iain still doubted she’d ever use these knowledge.

"hey! let's not turn this back on me." he had noticed the small changes to his shifter form and hadn’t really thought too much about it until he realized that they were bleeding into his fae form, turning a raven crown dove. slim fingers move into his silvering locks — “it doesn’t look that bad, does it?”

☆ﾟ*·ﾟSIENNA LOOKED DOWN at her hands and untucked her thumb, taking a moment to feel what it felt like. "like that?" she then punched forward into the air, feeling incredibly ridiculous. the redhead felt so incredibly weak and pathetic. but she spent most of her time sewing, in a very relaxed position, so why should she have any power in her punch? "i feel like that was really weak. am i shrimpy?" sienna pouted and looked up at him. "i was hoping my punch would be as fiery as my hair, but i think it's more weak, maybe like the white that's been showing up in your hair." sienna said, trying not to laugh.

[lichtundschattens]

to: @sparkledcrowns ellie

“You’re radiant,” he murmured, his voice a steady ember that flared to life as the words fell from his lips. “Like the stars themselves.”

He doubted she’d expected his return. After all, Viego had vanished so swiftly after their last encounter, pulled away by the call of his work as a spy. Though he cared deeply for the high lady, he’d long accepted that his duty always came first. He was disciplined that way, his steel resolve forged in the fires of a childhood that taught him to be tough—unyielding against the world’s jagged edges.

Yet now, as he took in the sight of her, a gentle smile crept up his lips. It was strange how quickly he’d come to care for her, how something in him stirred, urging him to keep her safe from the darkness he knew too well. He wanted to see her happy, to shield her from the universe’s cruelties—though he couldn’t explain why. Their last meeting had occupied his thoughts, a persistent echo. He could still feel the ghost of her warmth against his cold hand, remember the spark in her hazel eyes as they caught the light of the sparkling stars, and her smile—a warm, steady glow he hadn’t realized he’d been longing for.

“Perhaps it was all foreshadowing... a glimpse of how you’d reclaim your light, like the night sky reborn under the stars.”

[shvdwscng]

STATUS : CLOSED ⟳ @sparkledcrowns ;; aoife

despite  not  needing  her  magical  abilities  constantly  to  do  her  duties,  the  spymaster  was  beyond  delighted  to  have  her  abilities  return.  she  had  almost  wished  there  was  snow  fall  here  so  that  she  could  have  a  bit  of  a  taste  of  home,  to  be  able  procure  snow  flakes  in  the  palm  of  her  hand.  the  celebrations  certainly  had  left  her  in  better  spirits,  and  more  so  when  their  magic  was  entirely  restored.  as  days  went  by,  she  lailah  continued  her  spying,  learning  what  she  could  and  filling  her  high  lord  in  as  she  did  so.  her  frustration  lingered  as  she  did  not  uncover  all  that  she  had  wished,  that  even  after  a  few  weeks  the  dusk  faes  continued  to  remain  tight-lipped  and  the  librarians  carefully  choosing  what  they  allowed  the  other  courts  to  read.  "have  you  had  any  luck  speaking  to  this  court's  commander?"  she  inquired  as  she  settled  across  aoife.

[cresccents]

it  had  been  a  while  since  she  saw  sienna,  words  only  exchanged  by  letters  .  memories  only  taking  shape  and  kept  alive  by  looking  at  her  first  attempts  of  what  couldn’t  even  be  considered  a  dress.  as  she  adjusted  the  heavy  basket,  her  heart  was  beating  with  anticipation,  wondering  how  she’d  gift  her  the  basket  filled  with  dresses,  carefully  stitched  with  dedication  and  appreciation  for  the  person,  who  had  somehow  saved  her,  taught  her  something  she  could  truly  be  proud  of.  “  sienna  !”  she  waved,  her  breath  caught  in  her  throat  as  she  finally  spotted  her.  her  eyes  softened  at  the  sight  of  her  friend,  stepping  closer  to  close  the  distance  in  an  instant.  “  have  you  been  well?  you  somehow  got  even  more  beautiful,  i  hope  my  gift  will  do  your  beauty  justice.  ”

@sparkledcrowns ( sienna )

[stxrfclls]

des  perhaps  should  have  thought  about  how  she  was  speaking  to  a  fae  that  did  not  possess  the  average  abilities,  and  how  the  illyrians  didn't  even  have  their  siphons  unless  they  fell  asleep  with  them.  "  no  apology  needed.  "  she  says  easily,  quickly.  "  that's  quite  unfortunate,  i'm  glad  you  have  your  full  abilities  back  as  well.  "  she  arguably  didn't  know  much  about  illyrians,  despite  working  with  one  for  decades  now  and  training  longer.  des  had  just  never  bothered  to  ask,  she  didn't  want  to  seem  too  nosy.  a  smile  slips  atop  the  high  lady's  lips,  and  she  nods.  "  hopefully  it  is  a  good  turn  for  once.  "  they'd  had  so  few  as  of  late.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟLOOKING UP AT her, taking another sip of his coffee, elias felt bad for not understanding her comment properly. "oh, i apologize." he gestured for her to sit if she wanted to. not having the ability to fly, the ability to winnow, it was a strange and uncomfortable feeling, one that he wasn't too fond of at all. "it carries over in a way. our ability to fly and winnow was different, and that's not something i wanted to ever get used to. to feel like you can't just take off into the skies, because you simply don't have the strength, it felt strange," he explained, shuddering at the thought of ever feeling it again. elias still wondered why it happened and what would happen now. "it's best not to dwell on the past. it's returned and it's best to continue forward now."

[selinazarathin]

location: dusk court. the gardens. time: after lunch. with: @sparkledcrowns ; sienna.

LOUNGING in an ivory bench in the gardens, Selina was relishing in the brisk winter air & the mild warmth of it's sun. They never got winter back at home & while she wasn't too fond of too cold weather, the eternal sunshine & daisies of the Spring court were a bit suffocating. That, & the pollen - having thing perpetually in bloom did not help her allergies. It seems the Mother enjoyed cruel irony, placing a Spring-sensitive fae in Spring court.

alas, that was the unpredictability of life.

Her head rolled to the side, Selina huffed out a small cloud of frosted air & watched as the little puffs that appeared when she chuckled. Nestled in her cosy, dark blue fur, she would be content to spend hours basking in the mild, warm sun, but nothing except their lives lasted forever - & the sun was slowly starting to set.

Feeling a presence beside her, the one that smelled like spring, Selina did not have to open her eyes to see who it was - they bumped into each other at court way too often anyway.

"Did you come to catch the last few rays of sunlight? Part of me wishes I could stay here basking like a lizard forever."

[slivertm]

CLOSED ; for @sparkledcrowns and @n1ghtsongs' MUSES.

in a very strange way, iain was starting to grow comfortable in their current arrangement. it wasn't home exactly, but he was starting to learn shopkeepers names. the blueprint of their lodgings were sticking to the back of his head and he was able to trace it with his eyes closed. considering that he had never truly left the spring court except for vacations to the other courts while growing up, it was strange to even start referring to a different building as 'home'.

"i never understood what it meant to be homesick..." iain muses outloud, "but i think i'm sick of missing home, you know?"

[slivertm]

it feels like he’s closing in on her now, even if his feet are planted. jia backs away anyway, putting any welcome amount of distance between them. "don't apologize," she says. she means it in an honest way, as if she truly doesn't want him to concern himself with resurfacing her truest nightmare. she hopes they never cross paths again. it was all his fault for asking, reminding her how poor the night had been thus far, but she doesn’t want to make him feel guilty for it. for a casual killer, he seemed to have a conscious. "no. i'd like to return home if you don't mind," jia says, her stomach in fragile knots. without waiting for a response and with a lurch, jia winnows back to her estate, just in time to puke into the bushes.

END.

☆ﾟ*·ﾟTHE SPYMASTER WATCHED her react, watching her body change from a joking manner to looking sick. her words worried him. he wasn't much of a comforting person, but that didn't mean he didn't care about the well being of others. "hey hey, i'm sorry," damon stated, well aware he didn't usually apologize for much. he wasn't sure if he should move closer to her or if that would frighten her more. "look, it was an accident and rightfully his fault for jumping me. it'll all be okay. i can go put him somewhere else if you'd prefer."

[ethercvl]

closed starter for @sparkledcrowns ( aoife )

soobin   was   not   someone   that   often   dressed   up   in   fancy   clothing.   the   event   held   by   the   dusk   court   had   the   illyrian   in   a   suit   that   he   likely   wouldn't   have   reached   for   otherwise.   more   accustomed   to   wearing   something   that   he   could   easily   launch   into   a   fight   in.   the   general   couldn't   help   but   stretch   in   the   restrictive   jacket   as   he   made   his   way   around   the   castle   gardens.   spotting   the   commander   ahead   of   him   as   he   walked   he   caught   up   to   her   in   no   time.   "lady   aoife,   i   like   your   costume."

[ofcourtfables]

the following are at risk of being unfollowed and have 72 hours to meet their respective activity as listed below:

@lichtundschattens ( two posts - ares, viego, zhongli. zhongli - intro needed )

@slivertm ( one post - ulka aster )

@sparkledcrowns ( one post - aoife hathaway, damon carrow )

@illuminatingeclipse ( two posts - violeta sombra )

* if you currently do not have any replies to do for any muses on this list, please reach out to the main. since we do have a plot drop approaching this week, we will not ask new threads to be picked up prior and you may wait until after the 8th if necessary.

[stxrfclls]

lux  hadn't  really  had  time  to  grow  as  a  human,  but  she'd  been  thrown  to  the  wolves  as  a  fae.  she  didn't  have  the  luxury  this  lady  had,  and  she  wasn't  bitter  about  that.  it  was  just  hard  to  offer  her  any  other  advice  when  she  wasn't  in  the  same  place  anymore.  "  tell  them  that.  but  in  my  experience  they'll  also  want  proof  that  you  aren't  the  naive  baby  sister  they're  used  to.  "  she  couldn't  attest  to  how  the  other  had  grown  up,  to  what  the  relationships  were  with  her  older  siblings.  "  yeah,  i  was  the  youngest.  i  had  older  brothers  and  sisters.  "  she  didn't  share  that  she  was  the  youngest  of  7,  high  fae  weren't  used  to  such  high  birth  numbers.  lux  shrugs,  "  they're  your  family,  you  know  them  best.  "

☆ﾟ*·ﾟELLIE FIDDLED WITH her sleeves, wondering how she could possibly become stronger than she needed to be. she wasn't really very good at being bigger than what she was taught to be. her brothers were always overly protective of her, she knew that, but she knew that they only wanted what was the best for her. "i know they just want to protect me, but i also need to learn how to grow too, you know?" ellie sighed, and ran her hands through her hair. "do you have brothers?" she asked, curious if anyone else understood the struggle or the pain. biting the inside of her lip, she fidgeted again. "i'm nervous though? what if it all explodes in my face?"

[lichtundschattens]

to: @sparkledcrowns's calista location: somewhere in the dusk court gardens

"Commander," Ares greeted, his tone formal, clipped, and perfectly measured. The title felt foreign on his tongue, though not for lack of practice—after all, this wasn’t just a superior officer. This was his sister, standing just behind him. In his arms, baby Aerie wriggled slightly, her wide, curious eyes fixed on Calista with an unfiltered fascination only a child could possess. Ares could feel it—her quiet fixation, the way her tiny fingers gripped the fabric of his shirt as though sensing the significance of the moment. But Aerie wasn’t the only reason he’d known Calista was near. Years of spy work had sharpened his instincts to that of a razor’s edge. He could discern the lightest footsteps, the faintest shifts in the air. Few could approach him unnoticed, and his sister was no exception.

Yet, when he finally turned and met her gaze, the sharpness of his composure faltered, just for a moment. There it was, a pang of something achingly familiar. Guilt. It hit him with the force of an old wound reopening, raw and unhealed. The last time they’d stood face to face, his words had been sharp and unforgiving, a childish lashing out that still haunted him. He had cut ties between them, drawn lines in the sand, and told himself he’d done what was necessary. But as much as he wanted to bury it, a quiet voice in his mind whispered otherwise. Their mother wouldn’t have been proud of his behavior. The apology sat heavy on his tongue, a weight he couldn’t bring himself to release. His pride—always his pride—kept it locked away, an unspoken truth he feared might unravel him entirely if he dared voice it.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"