♡ ━━━━ astrid grace.

nickname: n/a. birthday: september 10. age: 23. species: mermaid. family members: none. positive traits: awestruck, curious, bubbly. negative traits: naive, foolhardy, sensitive.

♡ ━━━━ circe bale.

nickname: n/a. birthday: november 11. age: 329. species: siren. family members: none. positive traits: alluring, quick-thinking, patient. negative traits: distrustful, selfish, mouthy.

♡ ━━━━ mahsa stilinski.

nickname: n/a. birthday: january 25. age: 28. species: human. family members: none. positive traits: cunning, witty, resilient. negative traits: arrogant, angry, mischievous.

crucify me anyway | pack

"well, well," malarie exclaimed, calling attention to her presence in the hall, "fancy meeting all of you here."

trytas, at the head of his cluster of siblings, stopped and turned to face the approaching hale sisters. eira's hadmaiden, fei, trailed a few steps behind them, her head bowed as it always was in the presence of company. wryly, trytas had to wonder how she got anything done when she was so afraid to look up from the ground. he kindly pulled his eyes away from her to greet the approaching royal sisters. etiquette dictated that he lowered his head, too, but he'd spent enough time with the sisters over the years to know that they'd much rather he look them in the eye. still, he bowed his head respectfully. "your highnesses," he greeted, holding out an arm for eira, as malarie slipped her arm through lenore's, as if they were old friends and not two pawns in a centuries-old feud. "you both look lovely this afternoon."

"no need to fish for information, sir targaryen, i only know as much as you do," malarie teased. there was a playful disposition about her, one that never seemed to let up, even in the face of tension and ire. trytas had seen for himself how red her father could turn when he screamed at her for her lack of orthodox; he'd seen, just as well, how malarie lounged and smirked in the face of such loud disapproval. her gown dragged behind her on the ground as they traversed the corridors, passing by the open windows that blessed them with golden sunlight. "all i know is that his majesty has decided his competent daughters can handle security matters now." she met lenore's eyes then, a brief shadow passing through her gaze. "he says to follow the gods' law, if we can't pass our own judgement."

trytas hummed, but didn't comment. the gods' law was an old concept, one far older than either freya or lexise would care to study, though not one that either himself or lenore would be unfamiliar with. it was, simple and plain, murder; to kill whoever posed a threat to the kingdom, regardless of who they were or what the threat was. it was archaic and trytas much liked to believe that they had progressed beyond such measures, but it didn't necessarily surprise him that the king seemed to find it viable, still.

another moment passed before malarie spoke again. "it was the argents," she said, her tone deceptively light. "they called for this meeting."

trytas looked over at her in surprise. trailing behind her brother, lexise tipped her head in confusion. a lot of what was being said flew over her head. she knew nothing of a gods' law or the significance of the argents calling for an audience with the council. though, if she recalled correctly, the hales were historically the only ones who called for such unions. "why?" she asked curiously.

malarie shrugged as if unbothered. "isn't that the question, sweet?" as they approached the looming double door leading to the throne room, the guards stationed in front of it stepped to the side to pull the doors open for them. trytas let his arm slip gracefully from eira's and allowed the princesses to enter first, then the targaryens, and fei last. as was custom, malarie sat in the king's seat, her sister in the queen's, and he and lenore took up positions on either side of them, while his younger sisters joined the martins in the ring around the ring around the room. fei, ever the traditional servant, stood in the shadows of the room, prepared to race forward if she was needed but otherwise making herself invisible. a quick glance through the room revealed everyone else, exactly where they were to be. all of the representatives from the families of the court: boyds, aenins, maes, vhassos, larkes, porters, martins.

the targaryens were the second highest power in the kingdom, but the families gathered here were all limportant. they all knew what no one else did.

from his spot beside eira, trytas let his eyes fall on the six people kneeling in the center of the room. with his nose, it was all too easy to pick up the scent of seawater clinging to them, just as readily as the scent of blood. one of the six, the enticingly beautiful girl with dark skin and furious eyes, had a cloth shoved so far into her mouth that it was obviously impairing her breathing, despite her stubborn glare and refusal to show vulnerability. beyond that, another cloth was wrapped around to keep it in place, tied so tightly that it would leave bruises. a little further down the line, the long-haired brunette had gone remarkably pale and seemed to be struggling to stay awake. the scent of water clung to her more so than any of them, and he realized after another moment that she must've been a mermaid to smell that way. a mermaid, so far from the water.

trytas kept his mouth shut. the argents were the protectors of the kingdom and it was their duty to do what would keep the princesses safe. it was not his place to question how they restrained the captives, humane or not.

behind the pirates, the argent sisters stood, isabeau a half step behind her elder sister. trytas had very little doubt that they weren't the ones who'd apprehended these pirates; gabrielle, as far as he knew, had never been one for such cruelty. but she would inherit the argent legacy and mantle. whether she was responsible for this or not, she was the one who'd have to explain it to the court. and isabeau was nothing if not faithful to her older sister.

"oh, gabby," malarie cooed, almost a purr in its quiet intimacy, remarkably informal for such an occasion. "what pretty gifts you've brought me today." she smiled, almost catlike, as she addressed the argent heir. "is it our anniversary, love? i fear i didn't get you anything."

malarie hale was remarkable, aurelia thought from the sidelines. her dedication to making everything a joke was one for the ages. it was really no wonder her father cursed her name so violently.

[dorothea pulls in a quiet breath, passing her hands down her skirt again.] to be honest with you, i've been rather unsettled. i fear the silence that comes with peacetime has gone to my head. i can't help but feel that something awful might appear at any moment. i fear for my sisters if it does. [she blows air from her lips.] listen to me. peace is all i've ever known, yet it makes me so anxious. i sound mad.

indeed, i feared a drought at some times that may have hindered the growing season. thankfully it seems as though everyone was able to replenish their stores for the winter months. truthfully, i quite prefer the cold as well, especially in your company, my friend. tell me, how have you been?

being alright is my specialty, annie. i've honestly been quite bored. our parents uphold peace, but i long for days of excitement.

i have; i am so happy it has been a peaceful time in the kingdom as of late. and you, my friend? how have you been?

the summer was long, wasn't it? we dread harsh, lingering winters, but the summers are brutal in their own ways. i think i much prefer the cold. after all, it seems that chill weather has brought me fine company.

i would like nothing more, dorthea. i know there is a chill in the air, but i do find it quite refreshing, especially after such a hot summer.

far be it for me to turn down such an honor. [isabeau smiled at her best friend and started towards the gardens, tucking her knife into her holster.] have you been well?

i am glad. i thought i might go for a walk in the gardens, and wondered if you would like to join me.

[dorothea smiled and stood up, dusting her hands on her skirt. it was rare to see the targaryens out and about so freely. they tended to keep to themselves. she had no intention of wasting such an opportunity.] come now; such disturbances are as distant from our present as the gods are from this world. [the martiins had no stake in the feud, either way. though they had unwavering loyalty to the hales, they sought no strife with the targaryen clan.] i would love to accompany you, if you'd have me.

no, i suppose many would not. i apologize if i have disturbed you. i only hoped to get some fresh air, i meant no disruption.

quite. i wasn't expecting you today; this is certainly a happy surprise.

it is i who should apologize, i did not mean to frighten you. are you alright, isabeau?

[closing the door, she wipes the sweat from her brow. training with oneself is not the most rewarding, but it's far better than not training at all. she turns and nearly rams straight into someone.] oh! my apologies. i wasn't paying attention. are you alright?

oh⎯⎯hello. i didn't imagine i would run into you.

kingdcmlight​:

not at all. fei, there is no need to…i may be highborn, but i am not…please, do not feel as though…you and i, we are the same, as far as i am concerned, and damn what anyone else might say. please do not think any different. 

lady deidre... you’re too kind. i fear your believe is not one shared by our elders. but it is a relief to hear you say such. [almost shyly, she meets deidre’s eyes.] may i walk with you?

kingdcmlight​:

it is at that. [lenore smiles as they move in the direction opposite the exit.] if such a proposal would be accepted by the court, my lady, please know i would make it in a heartbeat. though i am afraid i come to offer my apologies instead. you may have heard my siblings and i attended the ball the other evening. i apologize if our presence caused any issue.

oh, yes. [malarie heaves a dramatic sigh.] how terrible it was, to see such beautiful faces having a lovely evening. caused me great distress, you know. [she aims a sly smile at her companion.] there was no issue. the old generation can fuss all they want, it makes no difference. did you enjoy the evening?

kingdcmlight​:

the mind can do that, from time to time. hi. how are you this evening?

i’m well, wandering mind aside. maybe a little tired. how are you? and... [she lowers her voice.] did you enjoy the ball?

kingdcmlight​:

oh yes, quite alright. please, there are no need for apologies. are you alright?

i’m okay. [she bows respectfully and keeps her eyes low. eira would throw a fit to see her acting so subservient, but well fei has always known her place.] did you need anything?

kingdcmlight​:

no, i don’t suppose i am.

then, as princess, it’s only my duty to escort you out. [easy and thoughtless, malarie slips her arm through lenore’s. she leads her on a walk, pointedly going the opposite way of the exit.] might i ask what brings you to my corner of purgatory, lady targaryen? if you’re here to ask for my hand in marriage, i accept.