baby, you’re a haunted house

Clarity is not always a good thing.

It might have been, for anyone else. It might have been, for any other moment. But here, she stands -- feeling for all the world like a stupid little girl -- as she finally pieces together the puzzle. Too late, too late. Everyone else had known besides her; everyone but her was already in on the joke.

She seeks to jerk her paw away from papa's comforting hold, firmly pressing it back into the ground. Not even the sharp pain that trickles up her arm is enough to distract her from apollinaires explanation. He says it's a joyous day; she's never known her father to be a liar, but here he lies straight to her face. With a smile, even.

clarity is not always a good thing.

It's not quite hatred that colors her too-sharp gaze, but it's close. Dark and dangerous, and the shift in her features makes her look like a completely different girl. Flicking her gaze between @Faustine, who's crown is ill-suited, and to @Louve ♔ who gives it to her. It is cruel and there is a hurt that sits heavy in her chest. Before any of them move, she turns -- not bothering to look at any of them as she leaves. Not even @Apollinaire, his gleeful tone ringing like bad music in her ears.

Cruel, indeed.

Exit

better find another superstition!

code by anyu

The warmth of @Lazare's touch slips away, torn like a newborn babe from his arms. And oh, does he feel the sharp pain in his cold heart! His sanguine gaze can only observe as the defeated learns of her defeat, and trailing the sudden change in the fine lines of her youthful face.

Albeit the pain, there is a sick and twisted fascination in seeing Lazare's dark and dangerous shift of emotion. There is a sudden change, a complete difference from the glazed look that the girl sported. It was painful, and yet he knew too well that this lesson is a turning point in their lives.

And it won't be the last.

There will be many, many more. And he will be there to watch them with a smile on his face. Even when their blood paints the rocks red. Especially then.

He listens to @Louve ♔'s teachings, finding irony in the fact he'd given her that advice, albeit in different shape, a couple years ago. Growing pains. If today had a title - it will be that.

@Faustine is finally given the title, and she herself vows a promise. He watches her with a nonchalant, celebratory even, smile that does not betray the doubts that lurk beneath. She is young, and youth was unstable in many ways. One wrong step, and she could find herself in a trench so deep. One wrong step and she could find herself dethroned by her growling sisters.

Scratch that. It may very well happen without a wrong step.

As if to underline that notion, @Lazare shoots daggers towards the duo of mother & daughter. Then, without a second look at even her dear papa, she disappears.

He knows better than to follow a woman with that look.

With the victor and defeated gone, Apollinaire stands to approach @Louve ♔, still smiling pleasantly. "Ambitieux, mais manquant encore de... prudence." "Ambitious, but lacking the... carefulness yet." His eyes trail the disappearing back of Faustine. The girl was not exactly like Louve in many aspects, but her raw and hasty desire to reach power was akin to her mother. His head turns towards Lazare's disappearing silhouette then. "Quant à celui-ci... elle a peut-être perdu aujourd'hui, mais il semble qu'elle ait gagné en ruse. Je me demande quand nous le verrons se manifester?" "As for this one... she may have lost today, but it seems she'd gained an edge of cunningness. I wonder when we will see it manifest?" There is a gleam of excitement in his eye, as the Wolfbron General presses affectionately into his wife. Dipping his head to both her and @Amara, he retreats back to his duties.

On his way back to the borders, he pauses to sharpen his claws on the same rock he'd marked just prior to the battle. He takes up his patrol where he'd left off. It was a calm day, and the sun was hiding behind the cloudy skies. There was nobody in sight, and yet he continued to pace. Perhaps some unfortunate soul would entertain his newly awoken desire to fight by the end of the day.

exit

@Jean-Claude settled near her, it was good that he was here to watch this and Amara noticed that others from the family were missing. That wasn't a good sign and she would have to make sure they knew these things should be attended. She looked toward him for a moment and gave a nod, They are. She was proud of her granddaughters. Their strength was a testament to their life and upbringing in a stable home. I wouldn't dare pick a side. She smirked at him as she answered. She had picked sides before, favored Sev but it was Louve who had won and who ended up shining. @Louve ♔ was now leading the family and she hadn't seen her pale daughter in years.

@Faustine wins the fight and Amara's gaze lands on the young yearling for a moment before flicking to her sister who was talking with her father. She didn't hear her right away but she was able to gather from what @Apollinaire was saying that @Lazare hadn't been fully aware of what the fight had been for. Amara watched the pair before @Lazare pulled away and was clearly upset.

Her focus shifted back to Louve as she spoke and gave a nod. The rank was hers to give. @Louve ♔ would be the one that needs to decide if @Faustine was heiress to the pride only, or the family as well. Amara wouldn't dare step into that mess. Louve had earned her spot as the family's leader and she had seen Cassine take over without a fight. She didn't know if it would be the same for her grandcubs or not but she didn't see why it wouldn't be. The family was strong and thriving. Many lessons are still to come for her. It didn't seem like that long ago that Amara was worried about Louve and her ability to chill out when it was needed but things seemed to be going well enough and Louve was doing her best.

Amara flicked her tail, hitting @Jean-Claude lightly before she moved to follow @Lazare. Losing was hard but not fully understanding what you lost was likely harder and she hoped that she might be able to help the yearling a bit.

exit

you be the lamb, and I'll be the slaughter

code & art

louve would be the very last to leave. faustine is first, making promises that will inevitably be broken. mistakes were all a part of the journey, after all, and she knew there would be a time that scolding would be necessary.

lazare, then, and there is a pang in her heart at the sight of her daughter's anger, as well as a surge of pride. it was good to be fueled by such a thing, and as apollinaire draws near he echoes the sentiment.

"j'ai été négligent une fois aussi," i was careless once too she murmurs to him, defending their fiercest child, reminding him of how far his own wife had managed to come. faustine reminded louve much of herself at that age, though with perhaps even more recklessness than her mother. it would lead to trouble, but for now she sets aside those concerns with a mental note to remind her daughter (again) of her place.

as for the one who had failed to find victory? "Lazare aura sa journée," lazare will have her day a murmur that is given in a sort of agreement, for she knew they would both see their daughter rise. one day.

with a tip of her head to the rest she turns back towards the den, intending to give the rest of their brood a tongue lashing for not bothering to show up. that would just not do.

-exit-

code by scorpixia♡︎ | art by Spu

A light huff parts his lips at her answer, he truly never knew what to expect from Amara. Originally he had hoped she would pick one of the two, but as the fight unfolded it was clear both could show the prowess needed to hold the title. Perhaps there truly was no favorite and either girl would do well.

He watches the fight intently, the two would-be Heiress’ dancing together, bleeding together. It was beautiful no? To watch those so young take what they want, what they deserve. His attention is drawn from the fight, head turning to find @Faolán besides him. "They fight for Heiress." he answers easily in the common tongue. The fight had begun to come to a close, Faustine coming out the winner over her sister. "Faustine has won it." he continues gaze flicking towards where Louve and the newly crowned Heiress stood, speaking in their native tongue. Much was said, but nothing that was necessary to relay to Fao other than that another strong female had moved into the higher ranks.

Finding that his gaze had slipped to Apollinaire and Lazare, where the young royal that had lost sat beside her father. He watched as her facial expressions shifted, leaving him curious about what was going on inside the girl’s head. If the girl was disappointed she could always try again, just as he expected to be challenged for the rank he held at some point. With one last respectful nod towards Amara and Louve and the newly crowned Heiress, he would once again turn to Faolán. "Walk with me?" he would ask, before rising to his feet, hoping to leave with her.

Exit

"speech."

The ending of your Life

Have you heard the news that you're dead? No one ever had much nice to say. I think they never liked you anyway. Oh take me from the hospital bed. Wouldn't it be grand ain't it exactly what you planned. And wouldn't it be great if we were dead

code by corvus

At least @Jean-Claude humored her.

Ears tilt forward as he answers her, a snippet of common tongue nestled in-amongst all the unknown french. heiress. an important rank, to be sure. Higher than his, maybe? She considers this as her mismatched gaze returns back to the fight as it winds down, the victor clear. Theres much conversation to be had though shes not included in it -- she sits quietly, patiently, until theres room for her to speak. Before the rest of the adults depart she chuffs, softly -- hoping to briefly grab their attention.if they need to be patched up.... She says, twin-tails flicking st her ankles. The one whod stormed away, the one who had lost, deemed to be bleeding heavily. Not a death sentence by any means, but Faolán had the ability to fix it. With her offer given, she nods to jean-claude -- happy to take him up on his offer.

There was always more of the bluffs to see.

Exit

BG — ART — CODE