[open] A Rose in the Rain [ANY/ALL]

[magnus]

Magnus is not surprised that this meeting has grown so quickly. In the aftermath of the Reckoning, the lands had been tumultuous, stormy, but they had begun to die down, to grow more stable—and such stability bred curiosity and a hunger to grow. The field was not as rich with activity as it maybe once had been, but it was certainly buzzing more—both with those looking for a home and those coming to offer it.

His attention, however, is drawn away from the stallion in question to the mare who arrives next to the group. She was blunt, and Magnus found he could appreciate it. It reminded him of his mother and the spitfire women who he had been raised amongst. He always did appreciate a woman with a sharp tongue.

“Kimber, is it?” he said in similar fashion, his whiskey-voice rough on his tongue. “My offer may perhaps be for only one,” half teasing but underlying with steely truth. Magnus did not take well to ultimatums, and he certainly wasn’t going to be bullied by someone he had just met. “As for Nymph being an asset,” he rolled his head toward the blood bay, scarred lips curving, “he certainly is for the highest bidder.”

Perhaps a little cold, but also the truth—for Magnus at least. Their first interaction had not been the best, seeing as Nymph had sold him and the Gates out for the Chamber, but such old wounds had healed. Magnus had accepted the stallion’s apology and truly did understand his motivation behind his actions.

That didn’t mean he wouldn’t remember it.

For a while, Magnus fell silent, watching as Nayl came up and gave her pitch, as Nymph prodded back and then explained his situation, and then as Reagan approached, his smile growing mischievous as he gave her a quick grin in greeting. When it had finally grown silent again, he fixed his gaze on the man at the center of the commotion, his expression growing more serious. “I am not here to bargain for you or to plead. You need to go to where your heart calls you, and if it is not with Tephra, then so be it.”

His gaze settled momentarily on Kimber and his mouth quirked before settling.

“The truth is that Tephra has changed since you were last there. Eight, Malis, and Offspring had stepped down from the Council to lead their lives in peace amongst Tephra residents, and I currently lead alone. I have empty spots on the Council to fill.” He considered telling him more, but kept his cards close to his chest. They were in a time of peace, but that did not mean that he needed to tell the other lands exactly what was occurring in the inner workings of Tephra. He had more of a mind for strategy than that.

“They are not going to be given to you, but were you to return, were you to prove that you had an interest in helping lead Tephra, they would be open to you.” He flicked his gaze to Kimber, unable to resist the urge to barb her. “And perhaps even to you.” He had a feeling he could get used to teasing the mare.

out of the blue out into the loneliest place that you'll ever know
I carried the world just as far as I could but the damage had taken its toll

sorry if this is out of order! just had muse for it.