Balem Abrasax (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
entitles) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
undergrounds2015-06-10 01:41 pm
entitles) wrote in undergrounds2015-06-10 01:41 pm
Entry tags:
[open]
[1 – The Royal Observatory – Open to All]
As detached as he acted, Balem did have a certain fondness for some places in London, and this was one of them. It was where he went whenever he felt like mingling with humans, or whenever he needed a change of scenery from his own observatory. While he knew a lot about space and the stars and planets in general, the humans knew them in a different way than he did. He was taught about magic and constellations and what the alignment of Earth and other planets in comparison to the stars meant, but not about physics and elements and the rest of the science behind it all. He learned that as the humans did.
He was dressed in a navy-blue suit and appeared to be a normal young man, although he had a certain dreamlike aura about him and those with a talent for seeing through magic would be able to tell that he was still wearing his golden collar, although he charmed it to be invisible to most. He stood alone, running one hand slowly over the old meteor that was on display. As with everything else here, he seemed to attach some deep significance to it.
[2 – Balem’s Observatory – Open to Fae (or anyone who would be in the Other Realm)]
The stars were finally more favorable to him than they had been the last few weeks, so Balem was in a much better mood than he had been. Redbright’s announcement still hung over his thoughts at times, but generally he was in a pleasant mood. And so, he decided to open his doors to visitors once more instead of sulking alone. The observatory itself as well as several rooms holding various artifacts he’d collected over the years were open; the only room closed off completely was the master bedroom, which had a marble slab blocking the knobs.
Balem himself was seated on a large ornate couch in the center of the observatory, bathed in starlight. Although it was night, the stars could be seen bright enough through the clear crystal roof that there was more than enough light to see by. Once in a while a lower-ranking fae in his servitude would scuttle by and ask him a question, but he was otherwise alone.
[3 – Wildcard!]
[Have another idea? Feel free to run with it!]
As detached as he acted, Balem did have a certain fondness for some places in London, and this was one of them. It was where he went whenever he felt like mingling with humans, or whenever he needed a change of scenery from his own observatory. While he knew a lot about space and the stars and planets in general, the humans knew them in a different way than he did. He was taught about magic and constellations and what the alignment of Earth and other planets in comparison to the stars meant, but not about physics and elements and the rest of the science behind it all. He learned that as the humans did.
He was dressed in a navy-blue suit and appeared to be a normal young man, although he had a certain dreamlike aura about him and those with a talent for seeing through magic would be able to tell that he was still wearing his golden collar, although he charmed it to be invisible to most. He stood alone, running one hand slowly over the old meteor that was on display. As with everything else here, he seemed to attach some deep significance to it.
[2 – Balem’s Observatory – Open to Fae (or anyone who would be in the Other Realm)]
The stars were finally more favorable to him than they had been the last few weeks, so Balem was in a much better mood than he had been. Redbright’s announcement still hung over his thoughts at times, but generally he was in a pleasant mood. And so, he decided to open his doors to visitors once more instead of sulking alone. The observatory itself as well as several rooms holding various artifacts he’d collected over the years were open; the only room closed off completely was the master bedroom, which had a marble slab blocking the knobs.
Balem himself was seated on a large ornate couch in the center of the observatory, bathed in starlight. Although it was night, the stars could be seen bright enough through the clear crystal roof that there was more than enough light to see by. Once in a while a lower-ranking fae in his servitude would scuttle by and ask him a question, but he was otherwise alone.
[3 – Wildcard!]
[Have another idea? Feel free to run with it!]
2 obv.
Her dress trailed up the steps but she never stepped on it, sometimes it was handy being a magical creature. She spent a little time drifting through displays, noting the presentation. The man was proud. And that point was only punctuated by the fact that he'd arranged himself in the center of the room, like another of his treasured items, starlight making an already inhuman sidhe appear even more ethereal. One could never say the fae were not vain. Every one of them preened in their own way. Fickle as well. She came to a stop at the edge of the starlight, and it made her own pale skin nearly glow.
"Lord of Stars." There was no concern in the voice, she sounded absolutely confident. "It seemed time to become acquainted." Frozen-berry tinted lips lifted at the corners like frozen blood against her pale skin as she gazed at him. The woman waited for him to look before dipping her head forward like a bow to an equal. A sign of respect.
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"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance," he said, starlight dancing upon his dark cloak as he stepped towards her, making it look like a piece of the night sky itself.
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"It is reassuring to know I have not intruded." If he didn't want her in his domain she would not be there, but it was polite to acknowledge his hospitality. And now that she had she let her eyes wander across the room in a slow sweep and then up to the ceiling where they focused on the glittering darkness. She took a moment of pure admiration, not having settled herself there was a twinge of appreciating a place that felt... akin to her in some way. Her eyes dropped back to his and she smiled. "Enchanting." And that could be describing a great many things right now.
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"And you need not worry about intruding if the doors are open. I live alone here now that my siblings have gone their own way, and this observatory was built to hold many."
His mother used to throw the most extravagant feasts and balls beneath the starlight, a tradition he hadn't kept up with since her death, but he could still be social.
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His speaking voice is soft but in the large room it isn't a strain to hear him the shape of room seems to amplify sound. Mab's own voice, while musical is more significantly pronounced, and she does not try to match his cadence as some might. Like being shushed in a library.
"I am given to understand you enjoy the solitude." No one in the Other Realm can avoid gossip. "Do you attend court functions?" Will she see him there is really the question. And she feels him out a little to see if he is someone she needs to keep an eye on. Or perhaps they will have similar interests. That is the entire point of coming here, after all.
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He did notice that the mentioned the humans taking action against them. A recent arrival to London and already she's noticed the hostilities - they have certainly increased within the last few decades. Had he known how much trouble the Night Council and Redbright would be causing, he may have chosen another place of residence, but now he couldn't leave without looking like he was accepting defeat.
"The Night Council along with Redbright and her ilk are determined to restrict us," he said, pacing slowly around his couch, "When I was young there were no cities, and our kind could have wiped theirs out entirely without much effort. They can dispute territory among each other as they please, but I'll not be ordered around by them."
no subject
And that knowledge included knowing why there were places she couldn't cross between realms. Like being fenced out. It was vastly irritating. The mortals could be most presumptive.
"I have heard the same thing." Her voice sounded icy, little crackles of ice crept along the floor before she stopped it. It was satsifying to see someone else as aggravated as she was. "The age of iron made things more complicated." But she said it as if she still believed if the fae really wanted to they could destroy everything the humans held dear. It just took a little more creativity. She wasn't ready to announce that she was looking into the dark witches, she did not know this fae well enough yet to know if he would become direct competition. Instead she murmured, "I feel quite the same way myself. I am new here, do you have any plans as of yet, knowing the area better than I?"
no subject
He pauses for a moment, and thinks, "I am Balem, if you please."
His last name was a well-kept secret even among his fellow fae, and he refused to share so much as his first name with humans, but he could tell other fae that much. If one of his own betrayed him, they would answer to his celestial allies.
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His offer of a name made her pause, quiet. And then she smiled slowly, nothing big but enough to know placing his trust in her had been noted. It rather forced her to give him hers as well but she was just as interested in the dangers of others knowing her name in the court as not. "I do." Please that is and it was there in the timber of her voice, the thrill of being given something by someone as careful as she. With a soft gesture of her hand she responded, "Lord Balem, I am Mab." Mab did not have a last name. She could indeed be summoned or have magics worked against her with one simple name alone. She had been known to answer to it even spoken too many times in conversation.
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"Lady Mab, then, allow me to officially welcome you to London, although I'm sure you've been welcomed plenty," he said, "We will be needing all the strength we can get, it seems."
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She let the bloodlust subside a little and breathed in. "I have yet to fully establish myself here, but I will also find a time to make my home open." In other words, she would return her own intrusion with an invitation for him to intrude when she had a place to intrude upon. She had a few places she had been eying. In the meantime she was in her mother's tower. Which did not suit her tastes.
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"And I look forward to it. I'm sure you'll find a suitable place to call home soon," he said. He had seen plenty of fae come and go in his time, there were always vacant lots.
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"Indeed. I have plans to do so within the fortnight." Turning her head a little she glanced off toward the door, trying to decide how much she wanted to discover about her fellow lord before taking her leave of him. Lifting her eyes back to his she smiled, and this was was more friendly though it was never quite safe to assume much with the fae. "Perhaps I have taken enough of your time." It gave him an easy dismissal, before she started asking questions that he might not be as willing to answer.
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"Yes, I'm sure you have a lot to do," he said, "I'll look forward to seeing you again."
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She smiled and dipped her head again. The anticipation was certainly mutual. But it was unnecessary to voice as she turned and left the room, eyes drifting up once more to admire the stars as she went. Little reams of fog curled up around her skirts before fading into the ether in much the same way she disappeared through the darkened doorway.