elianasolari​:

Eliana leaned against the wall, struggling to regain her breath.  When it had become clear the flames could not be extinguished, she had tapped into some unknown vein of courage to help those who were injured to safety.  Now that the room was sealed and she was safely in the hall, her courage was failing.  Lungs burned, she was covered in soot, and for the first time Eliana felt the full weight of the fear she had until then been able to keep at bay.

Her body shook and her knees buckled.  She was falling.  Just as suddenly she felt two supporting hands, saving her from the floor.  Eliana weakly looked at the other.  “Water…please.”

Mireille had had it easy, she was quickly learning. As a commoner, it was expected for her to be in the back of the room anyway. When the flames started, after getting over the initial shock of it all, Mireille was one of the first out. 

Perhaps it would have been best for her to run from there, to get away from the madness and chaos, but she couldn’t. Something was holding her in place, and the young woman found that the same force was pulling her to help those around her. The lines between nobility and commoner seemed incredibly thin, and she could have gotten lost in the absurdity of it all, if it weren’t for the woman who suddenly fell into her arms. Bracing herself, Mireille was able to support her, and the desperation in her eyes struck a chord. “Alright, alright,” her words were gentler than she had ever been, and she carefully led both of them to a position sitting on the ground, before yelling for water over her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay...” How could she say that? “We’re safe out here.”

--- closed starter for @singafaerysong​

The flames had come from nowhere, and in an instant, Carys had made a decision. She had lost track of her brothers and her sister in law in the chaos, but was sure she needed to help others get out. There was yelling, and running, and it was easy to get caught up in the midst of it all.

The smoke gathered quickly, and it wasn’t long before Carys’s lungs were burning. Lifting the hem of her dress, she tried to cover her mouth, propriety be damned, but it was soon clear it wasn’t enough. Turning, she tried to find her way to the exit, but between the smoke and flames, Carys wasn’t sure she could tell left from right. She wasn’t sure when she dropped to her knees, but she was desperately trying to crawl her way out. Instead, she found a wall, and tried her best to brace herself against in. Coughs wracked her body as she gasped for air, and her vision was slowly fading...

Then, a figure appeared in the midst of chaos, and Carys wasn’t sure if it had been hours or seconds. She could only desperately hope that they saw her, that they came to her. She tried to speak up, but all that came out were raspy breaths, before she was plunged into more darkness.

It was only through travel that Carys had learned that she was a homebody. There was no denying the magnificence of the other courts, but there was always a part of her that yearned to be back in the familiarity of her home. Still, she knew it was her duty to be present, and so, she milled about as best as she could, offering smiles and light conversation as she passed.

After making her rounds, she settled into a corner of the room, feeling a bit of relief to have a moment to breathe. The moment was fleeting though, and her face lit up once more as she was approached. “I do hope you don’t find me rude to be hiding here.”

oralie & elara:

This event was worse than Elara could have possible imagined. She had thought this would all be over with Beron’s private funeral last month, but no, her advisers insisted upon a public memorial for all the courts to pay their respects. The last thing Elara wanted was to indulge in the lie that her husband had been a good man and a good king when he had been a tyrant that had held her captive for so many years. And now the bastard was holding her captive from beyond the grave and trapping her in the role of a grieving widow.

“Thank you for coming. Please, do indulge, it is what Beron would have wanted.” She had to hide her smirk at that. Beron had loathed all of the other courts, and would turn in his grave at the thought of them gulping down the bottles of expensive wine he had kept reserved for himself.

On one level, Oralie understood why she had had to come. There was little excuse for someone of her rank to miss such a national event, and, there was no denying the opportunities it provided. Being seen by the other courts was important, she only wished it could happen somewhere other than the Autumn Court.

Hearing the queen behind her, Oralie turned, offering a low curtsey. There were precisely two people she didn’t want to see, and Queen Elara was one of them. “Your majesty,” she greeted as she rose, “How very kind of you to welcome us all at such a trying time.”

mireille & rosalia:

As much as she loved her home, the chance to visit another court was always thrilling for Rosalia. A season other than Spring was always fun to experience, and it gave her the chance to try out the fashions of another court. A dead king’s memorial might not have seemed the place to make a fashion statement, but Rosalia revelled in her beauty and wanted all eyes on her. The better a prize she made herself seem, the more likely she was to get her own king’s attention. 

“The colours of the Autumn Court are so vibrant, don’t you think? I will have to purchase some deep red and gold fabrics whilst I am here to take home with me.”

The gates had been opened, and for a rare time, Mireille found herself interacting with nobility and royals alike, and not with a thread and needle in hand. Of course, she was really there in case any last minute alterations or repairs were needed for the women in her gowns, but while they talked and flitted through the room, Mireille took her chances to have time among the visitors.

“If it’s a true autumn dress that you’re after, you’ll want more than just the fabric.” Mireille mused to the woman. “Dress makers in each court have styles that differ in minute ways. Small, yes. But if you take our fabrics to your usual dress makers, you’ll end up with a dress that looks ever so slightly off.”

oralie & rhysand

There was always so much tension between the courts that any event that brought them all together was usually far too uncomfortable to bear for very long. But this was a memorial service where no one had to plaster on a fake smile - in fact, it would look even stranger if they did. Then again, Rhys wasn’t sure if anyone had been a fan of Beron’s, he knew he certainly wasn’t. The man had been a pompous tyrant and there had even been rumours that he was plotting to branch out and seize the territory of other courts, so his death had come at no great loss to Rhysand. Still, he was a king and he would come to pay his respects to the family that had lost their loved one.

“I see they brought out the good wine for this.” He said as he poured himself a glass, and then another for the person who had joined him at the table. “Make the most of it. The Autumn Court wine is delicious, but they never allow it to be drunk outside their court.”

If Oralie was being perfectly honest with herself, she would have preferred not to come at all. Yes, a gathering of all the courts seemed a perfect time to socialize, and make herself seen and known, but a gathering at the Autumn Court came with a delicate complexity. It had not been all that long ago that Oralie had ended her betrothal. She wasn’t entirely sure that she was welcome in the court.

She gratefully accepted the glass of wine that her cousin was holding out, and took a sip before shaking her head. “If only good wine was all it took to make a marriage.” Her words were quiet enough that only he could hear, and her face remained neutral enough that any on lookers would have little suspicion. 

carys & alistair

closed starter for: @sxlvercrest Alistair & Carys

Alistair had been eyeing Princess Aurelia, who seemed to be like a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower as she moved from one person to another, and didn’t realize Princess Carys was approaching him until she was right there. “Your highness,” he said curiously, glancing around to see if it looked like anyone was following her. “Is something wrong?”

He obviously didn’t know the royal family personally; as a guard, he knew his place. Princess Carys was a little different - her daily rides coincided with the end of his shift on watch, and he had become used to seeing her on a daily basis. It wasn’t a friendship by any stretch but it was a little less surprising to be approached by her than it might have been with anyone else.

Carys had made the rounds that were expected, curtseying and offering smiles to the various royals and nobility that had gathered. It was exciting to have the entire realm gathered, even if it was for a somber occasion, but, in the moment, she was craving some sense of familiarity. She strained her neck, trying to spot a family member in the crowd. Aurelia, it seemed, was flourishing, and her brothers were no where to be found.

Instead, her eyes fell on a guard from the Dawn Court, one who had accompanied them for their journey. The two had made small acquaintances back at home, as he was usually on duty when she was making her way to the stables. Making her way over, she quickly shook her head at his inquiry. “No, no, not at all.” She glanced back to the crowd, before offering a light smile. “I must admit, I was not blessed with a comfort in crowds. It’s nice to see familiar faces among them.” The thought suddenly struck her that she might be impeding on Alistair’s own evening, surely even a guard deserved a bit of fun. “You must shoo me away if I’m interrupting your evening, though,” she added hastily.

Colour Asks

RED Crimson - What was an event that’s shaped you to be who you are today? Light Pink - Do you have stuffed animals? Blush - Are you single? Amaranth - What’s your favourite emotion? Cherry Blossom - How are you feeling right now? Hollywood Cerise - What are your ambitions? Razzmatazz - Favourite TV Show? Rose - Where do you feel most comfortable? French Rose - What is your favourite flavour? Cameo Pink - Favourite movie?

ORANGE Buff Orange - Would you consider yourself athletic? Burnt Sienna - Favourite smell? Melon - Do you like to dance? Carrot - Do you bake? Copper - What is your favourite kind of day? Orangeade - When do you feel alive? Gamboge - Where do you want to travel? Peach - Favourite texture/s? Vermillion - How brave are you? Bittersweet Shimmer - What is your favourite memory?

YELLOW Flax - Do you like going to the beach? Wheat - Who can you trust the most? Laser Lemon - What kind of phone do you have? Gold - Are you high maintenance? Mellow Yellow - How calm are you? Unmellow Yellow - How high energy are you? Papaya Whip - How honest are you? Transparent Yellow - Would you consider yourself to be special? Canary - Favourite song? Reed Yellow - Do you play an instrument?

GREEN Pear - Where do you feel rested? Olive - What is your favourite food? Fern - Favourite plant? Moss - Are you quiet or loud? Tea green - How do you relax? Celadon - Dream job? Harlequin - Can you act? Malachite - Do you speak more than one language? Mantis - Favourite animal? Seafoam Green - Do you like water?

BLUE Sky Blue - Would you ever want to fly? Periwinkle - Would you want to breathe underwater? Powder Blue - Or control the weather? Liberty - Become the president/prime minister? Space Cadet - Become an astronaut? Celeste - Have perfect pitch? Eton Blue - Become invisible? Indigo - Become immortal? Iris - Grow plants at will? Whispering Blue - Or teleport?

PURPLE Lilac - Would you want kids? Lavender - What is your favourite time of day? Mulberry - Could you betray someone? Eminence - Favourite sounds? Palatinate - Do you think you’ll make it to 100 years old? Prune - Do you ever think about dying? Fandango - Do you spontaneously start singing sometimes? Thistle - If you could become wise, rich, or intelligent, which would you rather? Mauve - What would you name your kids/pets? Royal Purple - What’s your favourite emotion?

OTHERS Cream - If you had 1 day left to live, what would you do? Silver - Are you a good person? Ecru - How do you feel about the world today? Auburn - Favourite colour? White - Do you own lots of makeup? Black - What is the greatest success of your life so far? Bronze - Would you follow my blog? Pink Nectar - What’s your aesthetic? Sepia - Do you like photography?

--- tag dump

introducing --- miss mireille darlington

(amita suman / cis-female / 20/300 / unmarried) ~ PLEASE WELCOME, (MIREILLE DARLINGTON), the (DRESSMAKER) of the (AUTUMN) Court. Word of their (CREATIVITY) and (TENACITY) has travelled far, but there are rumours of their (BLUNTNESS) and (UNREALISM). 

- Born into a civilian family in the Autumn Court, Mireille grew up in a way she could only describe as ordinary. Her family was tight knit, and her home full of love and light, a safe sanctuary from the cutthroat world outside. - From a young age, Mireille was struck with thoughts of how unfair the world seemed. Who determined what families got powers, and were able to stay in castles, while others simply made it by? She was often hushed by her parents, and as she grew, she learned to keep her thoughts to herself. - A talent for sewing showcased itself early on, and paired with a penchant for creative designs, Mireille quickly found her place in the world, offering gowns to both nobility and commoners. Soon, she was rising, and eventually found herself as the most sought after dressmaker in the court. A mix of hard work and an eye for design set her apart, and in a land of competition, Mireille had clearly won. - While she’s still struck by the seeming unfairness of the world, Mireille can’t pretend to be unhappy when she sees her designs on the upper echelon of society. Her latest goal is to begin to get her designs outside of the Autumn Court, laying the foundation to be the most sought after dressmaker in the realm.

introducing --- her royal highness, princess oralie

(anya taylor-joy / cis-female / 21/220 / unmarried) ~ HEAR YE, HEAR YE, (HER) Royal Majesty, (ORALIE ARCHERON) approaches! Didn’t you know that they are the (PRINCESS) of the (NIGHT) Court? Word of their (WITTINESS) and (SOCIABILITY) has travelled far, but there are rumours of their (INSECURITY) and (IMPULSIVENESS).

- An ambitious girl from the time she was born, Oralie has always known what she wanted from the world. She knows her place in society is good, but she desires more - more than just being cousin to the King. - At first, her betrothal seemed decent enough. In wedding the Prince of the Autumn Court, she’d one day become their queen. Leaving her family behind would be painful, but she knew it was what must be done to secure her place. - King Beron’s death sent shockwaves through the world, and Oralie was not spared. When Queen Elara took the throne over her son, it sent a message loud and clear - the Prince could not give Oralie the power she so desperately craved, and so, she elected to take matters into her own hands. - Finding a suitable enough man was easy, and Oralie herself started the rumors that got her out of her engagement. Predictably, her father was outraged, but Rhysand was there to pick up the pieces. Oralie is grateful to her cousin, and finds comfort in her new home, though her eyes are always trained ahead, planning for what comes next. - Word of the princess’s wit and charm often precede her, and Oralie thrives in social situations, knowing the exact moments to offer a smile or bat her lashes. Underneath it all, though, there lies an insecure girl, always suspicious of why people seek out her company. She craves genuine attention, even if she isn’t always the best at giving it out herself. - Oralie knows the strength and danger of her powers, and has vowed to only use them in the most dire of circumstances. She hopes that the reason never comes, but if it should, she’s ready.

introducing --- her royal highness, princess carys

(bella heathcote / cis-female / 24/252 / unmarried) ~ HEAR YE, HEAR YE, (HER) Royal Majesty, (CARYS DAGERAAD) approaches! Didn’t you know that they are the (PRINCESS) of the (DAWN) Court? Word of their (GENTLENESS) and (CHARM) has travelled far, but there are rumours of their (WILFULNESS) and (NAIVETY). 

- Princess Carys is a soft princess. The youngest royal of the Dawn Court, she grew up wanting for little, and was eager to give back when she could. She can be frequently found among her people, listening to their stories, and helping where she can. - In watching the betrothals of most of her equals, Carys knows to expect the same for herself, even if she hasn’t completely come to peace with the thought. She craves the right to her own heart, though, if it came to it, she’d go where she was needed for the good of the family. - When it was announced that Aurelia would be joining the family as her brother’s wife, Carys was thrilled. She adores her brothers, but having another woman in the family was particularly exciting. Since Aurelia has joined the court, Carys has loved having her nearby, and considers her sister in law to be a close friend and confidant.  - A true child of the Dawn Court, Carys is often up before the sun rises, wanting to see the full spectacle as many times as she can before the possibility of being sent away. More often than not, she spends her early mornings in the stables, and she’s usually out on a morning ride as the day begins. - Carys doesn’t like to think about the rumors of unrest within her world. Surely, the stories of monsters and evil are just that - stories. Though she’s not foolish, she’s hopeful, choosing to focus on the good of the realm, rather than fret about the bad. - A nurturer at heart, Carys freely uses her powers as they’re needed, offering healing to those around her without asking for anything in return. In her mind, she was given them to create good in the world, as were the other fae, and she strives to maintain that.