i've got some damn bad intentions - kingdom

[Djinni]

djinni raene

To Djinni, some of the Sylvan faces are familiar, but many are not. She has seen a handful of them out in the meadow, or in the field, or from overhead as she soared across the autumn woods.

Raene though, she knows some of them. So when the mare raises her head to call for the kingdom, she wears an easy smile that would not look awry on Raene.

“Queen Marlyn has gone away for a while,” She begins. This time, Djinni is not at all responsible – it seems that fate has finally chosen to reset the score. She had taken a king from his kingdom, and now she has to replace him. The universe has always had a strange sense of timing.

She stops to look down at the earth at her feet, layered in brown and gold leaves, and then swallows heavily and meets the eyes of those that have assembled. “I think she’s gone to look for Kreios and Ygritte, which is where I’ve been since we settled in Sylva last year.” There are those who might not know Raene, but who could the big appaloosa be but Marlyn’s sister and Ygritte and Kreios daughter?

“In the meantime, she’s asked me to rule in her absence. I’ve no intention of making changes; Sylva seems a happy place already. I would like to meet with the heads of the diplomats and the army.” She gauges the faces of those around her as best she can. Are there heads of the castes? She’d assume so, but it was not something that she and Marlyn had time to discuss. She then asks the question most likely to give her trouble: “Does anyone have anything they’d like to say while we’re all gathered?”

current appearance: black spotted blanket appaloosa with salmon pink mane and tail

OOC: so in case it's not super clear what's happened: Marlyn has made Djinni the ruler of Sylva in her place. Marlyn is not aware that Raene isn't actually Raene but is actually Djinni, and neither is anyone else (so far... )

[Neo.n]

A race of thoughts and pictures were running like a slideshow of memories through her mind.  Pictures of her birth home.  The towering mountains that touched the stars she had grown to cherish, the endless forests and misty waterfalls.  She was a foal again. Exploring as she always had. Happiness in the purest of forms.  That's all she truly seeked even now as an adult.  Was that too much to ask for?  Suddenly within her dreams a sound she did not recognize to be here rang out.  A calling of sort.   

Jolted from her slumber hidden within the forest her reality came flooding back.  No more rainbows and butterflies.  She glanced about in partial confusion forgetting where she had ended up... Where was she anyhow?  She hadn't given it much thought actually.  Her pillars did the moving and she blindly followed.  Satellites twisted as more words were spoken.  Deciding it would be best to find out what was going on she arose from the floor of the forest.  Neutral hued framed heaved upwards  and began to shake off the dreams along with the foliage sticking to her coat.  She listened attentively as few more words were spoke.  She located the direction in which they came and moved forth.   

An equine came into view where a few others gathered.  She had not met anyone here yet so maybe this would be a great opportunity.  She kept moving forward, listening to the words spoken.  A change of leadership was underway she gathered.  She had not met the other leader so she hadn't an argument or opinion on the matter.  In her past she had held positions of peace keeping and may seek to do so again.  For now though she listened.  Waiting for others to show and voice their objections or praises.  Within the new rulers presence she was obligated to properly introduce herself.  She spoke directly to the mare,

Good day your Grace.  I am Neo.n from the northern skies, 'tis an honour to be here in your kingdom.  Crown dipped in respect.  She was from an old aged land and as much as she tried to escape it, it was who she was.  She couldn't escape that. 

DANCING NEON

and i felt closer to the stars for having loved you

word count: 735 -accrued points:  -HTML by Call

[Djinni]

djinni raene

The grullo coat of the first mare to approach catches her eye, and for a moment Djinni ponders fading back to her own smoky coat, but she keeps the black and white and the smile, and nods warmly to the other female as she introduces herself.

“Welcome, Neon.” She says, her voice gentle despite her large size, “We are quite glad to have you here, I’m sure.”

From the other mare’s introduction, it seems clear that she is a newcomer to Sylva. Djinni is grateful for this, but it does not show in her expression as she asks the mare if she plans on staying in the kingdom. “Will you be staying here long?”

With the shifting in Beqanna, there are a multitude of lands to explore; she could not fault the stranger for taking her time in choosing a place to settle down – if she settles down at all. Sylva is a wonderful land – certainly a beautiful one – but Beqanna is endlessly large.

current appearance: black spotted blanket appaloosa with salmon pink mane and tail

[Stillwater]

Stillwater

He slid into place beside and behind Raene, his rich, black coat and hair drier than ever. Always, he had touched his dearest friend, the water. At least a little. So cooling, so refreshing. So comfortable. But so far he hadn't sought out their source here in this Sylva. Other things first, other things. And then his drink. Then a soothing soak.

Standing this way reminded him of the time he had accompanied Nayl in a similar fashion. She'd left to greet the neighboring territory, Pangea. He was certain this meeting would be just as dull and boring as then, but unfortunately this time his presence was necessary. He'd never been necessary before. It made his skin crawl, and yet he stood so calm and casual. Unperturbed and steady.

Nayl..
She had no idea where he was, did she?
Not that she'd give a damn. It seemed she wasn't his Queen anymore now.

Dark, murky blue eyes fell to the shimmering silver dancer addressing ..Raene. Her pretty skull lowered in respect, bowing to her Queen. It was an enchanting movement and he watched unblinking as the light glimmered across her sharp curves. He smiled slowly but didn't introduce himself. Instead, he carefully returned to his blank stare and waited, ignoring the Queen beside him.

[Neo.n]

The stars had brought her to many places as of lately.  Each night a new adventure to be had.  A gift given to her from the magic between these lands and the skies above.  No longer was she bound to earthling travels.  She listened as the Queen spoke of intentions to stay within this kingdom.  Perhaps...  Manners forced her to listen to the Queen's words and once questioned she was obligated to answer. 

'Tis a lovely land your Grace.  I am unsure of where I call home yet

Crown dipped once more.  She felt her true home was within the stars but she would consider a more realistic kingdom as her home.  Just as she was to ask more about the lands another inhabitant came forth.  He stood tall and strong beside her, his Queen.  Surely he was known to her well fore standing as such would provoke quarrels in most kingdoms.  Maybe a solider of hers or gaurdian... King perhaps.  No a King would have bluntly introduced himself.  Having been standing motionless she now shifted back slightly unsure of the events before her.  He said nothing but looked in thought.   His gazed landed upon her for a short time then faded back into thought.  He did not introduce himself so she didn't question his intentions though he'd be watched carefully in case.  

Attention shifted back to the Queen still before her.  A question of the lands was due and perhaps a name.  Cords brought forth the questions,

I did not catch ye's name M'Lady? She paused momentarily for an answer quick to follow she was sure... 

DANCING NEON

and i felt closer to the stars for having loved you

word count: 735 -accrued points:  -HTML by Call

[Arrya]

You've got a heart as loud as lions, so why let your voice be tamed?

Well. Another meeting. Already. God, but this belonging somewhere thing is demanding, huh? Fine, yeah, alright. I leave little Rora with Zinnia and her little pumpkin baby, because infants don’t need the drama of dealing with politics. A quick kiss, a nibble of her scruffy little mane, and a soft little, “be good for Auntie Zin, little moonbeam, I’ll be back soon,” and I’m off to join the crowd.

Except it’s not Marlyn calling the meeting this time. It’s someone I’ve never seen before, who okay looks a bit like Marlyn and has some of Ygritte’s salmon to her, but doesn’t do us the courtesy of so much as dropping her name. I wait, listening through the explanation of why our leader has vanished without so much as a goodbye. Again. I can’t help but notice a trend, and irritation sends prickles along the back of my neck, my shoulders. Still. I wait through the talking, ‘til our apparently new leader invites us to step forward and say whatever we might have to say.

Oh, can do.

I hold my peace through the other new girl’s introduction, then I take a couple of steps forward, distancing myself from anyone who might have come to stand next to me. No need for ire to fall on them too if this goes well. “Yeah, so we don’t have diplomats or an army. We were idly discussing the possibility of forming some sort of guard at the last meeting, but nothing much has come of it just yet. Which I’d think you’d be aware of, if you’re supposed to be in charge now. Which, hey, a heads up from Marlyn would have been nice. By the way, I’m Arrya. And yes, the new girl - Neon, was it? - poses an excellent question. Who the f*ck are you? Got a name there? Expecting us to fall in and follow you when we’ve never seen you before - at least I haven’t - and we don’t even know your name, well that’s kind of asking a lot, isn’t it, princess?”

Then I turn my attention to the stranger lurking behind her. “And you there. Got a f*cking name, precious? Introductions are common courtesy when you come into someone’s home. Which is what this is. Our home. The safe place we’ve made to raise our kids and live our lives in peace. What exactly are your intentions here? You planning on sticking around and making sure that actually happens? That it actually f*cking stays that way? I’m willing to throw in with the security force, though I’m not exactly a warrior. Obviously more of one than a diplomat, though. But keeping our home safe matters, so I’d like to hear your plans on that front. And since we don’t have castes or heads of those castes, now seems like as good a time as any.”

You've got the light to fight the shadows, so stop hiding it away.

((Ummmm sorry, this is just Arrya. -_-))

[Akkadian]

He manifested from the shadows of the dark forest. At first he'd been content to merely watch all the newcomers in silence. Arrya's agitation was what tore him from his place and forced him into the open.

Always, he was meant to remain in the background. Silent. Watchful. A protector. Though with the death of his family, most especially his elder brother the prince, he had no purpose now. No longer his bodyguard. Instead, he'd filled his days with searching for a mare and child clearly long gone, or patrolling the borders. Or visiting with the closest thing to a friend he'd ever had.

He came to her side, prickly Arrya, and stood so that he was a step ahead of her. He would take whatever blows may be thrown at her.

His face was a hard mask, trained into him from childhood. With a glance, he dismissed the grullo mare as harmless. Newcomers waltzing into the midst of things were irritating when they should halt at the borders and wait to be escorted within, but she clearly was not a threat.

The woman taking Marlyn's place was also dismissed in this threat-detection. She was larger, but as sweet and kind as their gentle Marlyn had been. For a brief time, he'd been a bodyguard of a sort for Marlyn, but it seemed it hadn't been a close enough relationship to confide in him her plans to step down. More newcomers.

And then the man in the back. Tall, slender. Good-looking. Toned but certainly not a fighter. Not even close. He was also dismissed as harmless, and his attention returned to the new leader. All in a matter of a quick glance, a trained eye.

I am Akkadian-Shakkad. Deep within him, his heart winced at the use of his full name, but he forced it out anyway. It was proper to give it in a time like this, though the meaning of it would be lost on them. They'd have no idea..

We have no appointed diplomats or army. The majority of the residents stand before you now. Myself, and Arrya's family. He was without a doubt the closest thing they had to protection. Though he was reluctant to accept that responsibility again after the disastrous massacre of his family. He'd failed them. He'd rather not fail again. For now, his protection was only voluntary to whom he chose. So he held his silence, and did not offer himself for any services.

[Djinni]

djinni raene

When he sidles up beside her, she knows. There is something off about him, something missing, but she does not have the time to puzzle it out – at least not now. Living by the seaside, she’s never had reason to question Stillwater’s perpetual nearness to the water, and so she does not know that the dampness of his hide is a novelty. Perhaps, given time and enough thought, she’ll put it together, but she lacks that now. Instead, she looks over her shoulder at him, the expression on her face a blend of exasperation and affection, as though he is a character often given to lurking behind her despite repeated good-faith efforts to have him join the crowd. Let them think he is skulking but beloved; perhaps it will endear him to them.

The next to arrive is a bay mare, and while the tone of Neon’s introduction had been perfectly pleasant, it seems that this mare is here to play the grullo’s foil. The first thing she says is that there is no structure to the kingdom, something that startles a frown on Djinni’s black face. No army? No diplomats? What exactly had she done by taking away their King? Have they been floundering since, purposeless and unguided? Is she responsible for this?

No – she has no responsibilities. She refuses to. This is not her fault.

As the bay continues to speak it becomes ever more clear that she’s not happy with the change in leadership. Welcome to the club, sweetheart, she doesn’t say. She’d much rather be teasing Stillwater beside the sea, but instead fate has put her here in this forest, and she’s damn determined to give it a good effort (at least until she gets bored).

“A heads up from Marlyn would’ve been nice,” she agrees, fairly certain that such an answer won’t be what Arrya expects, but Djinni is careful to play what few cards she has. “But she felt searching for them was important too.” She doesn’t address the fact that Arrya’s not seen her before; was she supposed to have sought them all out when she arrived last autumn? Stillwater is still clearly new, smelling of salt and the sea, but she’s clearly been here a while.

“You can call me Djinni,” she replies, and then gestures behind her, “And that’s Stillwater.”

She’s never explicitly told Marlyn that she wasn’t Raene, after all. At first she’d intended to keep up the ruse for as long as possible (and really, for the past few weeks she’s done a bang-up job) but she doesn’t like being changeless for so long. Raene’s color changing – while acceptable – is not enough to keep Djinni content forever.

“If you were planning to create a guard, we can do that. Like I said, I don’t intend to change anything that doesn’t need changing. If this really is the majority of the kingdom - ” she looks toward the black stallion who has admitted this - “then perhaps we’ve no need of the traditional kingdom structure. A guard, a few horses that’ll be there to greet newcomers, perhaps some volunteers to see what the other lands are up to…”

She pauses here, looking curious, and asks Arrya and Akkadian, the two horses that have clearly been here the longest of those assembled. “Are there any diplomatic ties between Sylva and the rest of the new lands? Perhaps after we create a guard that should be the next priority.” The black stallion is clearly a warrior, and her ears had pricked at the hard consonants of his given name – something about them reminds her of her djinn’s desert. He stands in a way that seems protective of Arrya, but is no so close that she suspects him of siring the child she smells of – one that Djinni is sure had been left safely away from a meeting with strangers.

current appearance:
black spotted blanket appaloosa with salmon pink black mane and tail

[Blazing Sunfall]

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Blazing Sunfall

The mare had been on her way there when she froze, just out of sight. Crazy Time again.. Playing with me.." She thinks before she finds she can move again. Her ears flickered forward as she walked to the edge of the group as Raene - while, it looked and sounded as if raene - spoke about making a guard.

"Sorry about being late. Time's been a bit weird for me lately. But a guard sounds like a good idea, I like what you suggested." Sunfall says, a small smile on her lips. She was enjoying this rare moment of normal Time.. And was wondering when she would be rid of this odd.. Defect.

She hated having such a horrid defect all of a sudden. What had caused it, you ask? She'd say it's a trick played on her by Time to last until Time itself removes it. She took a step forward, to step around towards the others, and found herself next to the mare suggesting a guard and alliances. Time had sped up on her, and she was sure it made her look beyond bizarre to them.

[Stillwater]

Stillwater

Djinni turned to him with a look of sweet exasperation, and he shrugged helplessly with a smile. As though they had had this silent conversation a million times, easily falling into her little story. Not for her sake, certainly. But if he were to be stuck here, perhaps it would at least help him in some way with these vicious locals. And vicious they were, as an intriguingly haughty female stepped forward.

The smile he gave her was genuine as she spouted out a blast of heated words. Her shrapnel dug everywhere except into him. She was brutal, and demanded his full attention, so much so that he didn't notice the black stallion come to join her until he was at her side. He was immediately wary of him, though he hid it. The man was clearly a fighter sort, a warrior of some kind or something. But surprisingly, he didn't offer himself up for any of that. Pity, that would have made Stillwater's job insurmountably simple. It seemed the job would fall to him after all. Sort of.

Well, perhaps he could persuade the man and put him to use. Time would tell.

His eyes turned to the newest member, finding her standing still as though frozen. Then suddenly she jerked and was at Arrya's side. Weird.

He was right, this meeting was as boring as the last. More so, even. He shifted his weight and sighed quietly, wishing he could be elsewhere. His skin prickled with the number of people in one place, twitching. Always a solitary creature. He'd very much like to be that way now, alone in a cavern of perfect darkness. Maybe a trickle of water bouncing off the walls. He idly wondered if Djinni could make one here for him as he ignored everyone present, if she had that sort of power, though he wouldn't bother to ask. Wouldn't she just love to think he owes her for something else, wicked woman.