undergrounds | Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky [Open]

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Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky [Open]

1. Bulding glass houses
Mab had finally staked out her home, something that had before been more of a manor she now was pouring will into, icing the facade. She'd been working intermittently for days now, spilling enough magic into the structure each time to build a new layer of ice without completely draining her resources. It simply wouldn't do to be caught out without some of her strength to use. By now the building reflected the sun back in glacial colors, and almost seemed to have it's own inner glow, a pulsing of variable colors that matched her eyes and would leave those without strong magic entranced if they gazed too long. The ice was thick enough that you could no longer see the stone that had originally created the structure and you could also no longer see the door. Icicles hung like deadly spears from the eaves and the windows glittered with facets.

She pulled her hands away from the side of the building and stepped back, breathing in deeply before looking up at her work. It was nearly done, a few more days and it would be a solid defense, beautiful, remote and deadly, standing at the top of a hill bare of trees though they gathered around about a half a kilometer from the base of the hill. She shook a hand as though weary before straightening completely and giving it all a proud look. Yes, this would do nicely. Snow started falling just in the general area, carpeting the top of the hill and scattering down into the grass and heather. The snow muffled all the other noises in the area making everything feel even more remote.

2. Air and Darkness

A pale figure seemed to shimmer into space between two trees in a wooded area of the Southeastern Greenbelt. As if she'd taken off a black cloak and let it fall to her feet she stepped out of the darkness and onto the grass overlooking Crystal Palace Park. Following her as though congealing at her feet is a creeping fog, a result of her own natural coolness hitting the warm summer air. In the darkness she puts a hand out to touch the worn stone pillar on a set of stairs leading down from the Italian terrace she is standing atop and ice forms along it, spreading along the surface and making soft cracking noises as the cool expands inside the stonework. Lambent eyes take in the area, assessing who is nearby. Even as she begins to walk down the steps, the fog starts spilling down them in her wake like a living thing, silent and sinuous.

Her gown trails down behind her and it is difficult to see where fabric stops and fog starts, it all blends together.

3. Newfangled technology

Mab stood unnaturally still, looking up at the sign above the store. The sign did not sound like it should sell cellular telephones but the window displayed them. The sign should be changed. She had the strong urge to fix it for them because it annoyed her. Finally she took a noticeable breath and her head moved, dropping to look at the door which hand a metal handle. Humans loved metal far too much. It was why she found gloves necessary but she still did not like to touch the bane. Even through her gloves it burned a little. Instead she waited a moment more for someone to open the door and she followed them in, letting the door close behind her without ever touching it.

She stopped again inside the store and looked askance at the rows of different phones many of which also seemed to have metal housing. The air in the store was cool enough it didn't noticeably cool when she entered but the window on the glass door behind her fogged a little until she began to walk farther in, eyes scanning across displays that seemed to be written in English but for the life of her none of them made any sense at all. Abbreviations, numbers, features. She stared down at one of the little cards and then looked up at the displayed phone. The screen glowed with pictures splattered across the screen. Tiny tiny pictures.

4. Anything else!
Hit me up, I know there are a few people I mentioned wanting to meet, if these don't fit for you let's work something out, baby.

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Balem could take it however he liked. It was certainly no skin off her back and if it made him more agreeable that was icing. The lights in the wall seemed to react to him as he touched the wall, curling around the spot and darting away, like a living thing. "Yes, my power often manifests in such a manner." Wards specifically and sometimes her gates between worlds had the same effect. For someone who's domain was darkness it was an interesting contrast.

She continued walking, bare feet silent when exposed ice of the floor wasn't covered with a rug. She stepped into what was clearly a recieveing room and there were steaming cups of coffee, tea and cocoa set out on a short glass table along with small finger foods. The couches were plush and a fire burned in a fireplace on one wall. Not the traditional kind at foot level but one set at head height that stretched nearly the length of the wall. More ice crystal chandeliers hung here glittering like diamonds and again there were furs and carpets and heavy drapes that contrasted the starkness of the the icy walls and lights. She waved a hand at the refreshments in invitation before turning to look at him again.

He was fae beautiful, but it was his power she liked and even here in the heart of what was becoming her home she could feel it and it made her smile to herself. "Perhaps it is not the eternal beauty of your star palace but I find it will do."

"My mother made that palace in her eighty-fifth millennium, and even then it took her quite some time," he said. Back in those days the House of Abrasax practically qualified a a court in their own right, before Seraphi's death caused the family to become fragmented.

He took a cup of coffee and drank while it was still steaming hot, a small glow visible on his exposed chest as he drank. Even in this disguised form, starfire still burned within him; that part of his essence he could not hide. He always wore such thick, long-sleeved dark clothing around humans for that reason.

"You were fortunate to arrive at a time like this. Plenty of opportunity to make a name for oneself with all these tensions coming to a boil," he said. He was observant enough, and could tell that she craved power as he did. The fae courts were usually fairly stable, but every now and then a tumultuous time came to shake things up.

"An impressive piece of work, it speaks highly of her skills." She made no attempts to hide her observation of the glow within him either as he drank. It made a lovely contrast to the darkness of his jacket and Mab had no problems admiring.

She leaned a hip on one of the couches, running pale fingers along the darker fabric and smiled to herself. It wasn't entirely luck. Mab had chosen her time for return for precisely that reason. Not that she could not have made a name for herself otherwise but a good part of advancement was creating your own luck. "Yes, quite fortunate." She agreed, amusement dancing in her eyes as she looked at him. "I believe I will enjoy building my place here." And if her own home wasn't a metaphor for her building up layers of strength she didn't know what was.

"At the very least," he said, raising his cup, "I believe we shall both enjoy tearing their place down if they keep pushing us."

And by 'they', he meant all of their potential enemies in London. Building was nice and he loved art in any form, but destruction gave him great pleasure, too, when he deemed the party in question deserving of it. After all, stars may not wander about attacking others, but they tend to consume anything that comes at them.

Oh and wasn't that the case. Something hungry and pleased came into her eyes. "Oh yes." It came out as a sigh of delight. Should the two of them ever really let their powers loose, they could raze great portions of the city, no doubt. Mab's anticipation for reminding the mortals of why they should not test the Fae's collective patience as a palpable thing.

"It is important to remember what should truly be feared." Her teeth flashed sharp and pleased and definitely not a smile. It had none of the friendliness of a smile. They were predators in their own rights.

"It's been a while since I decided to show my wrath to anyone," he said, because he had been much less involved with humans in general after his reclusive years, "It's about time I got back into the swing of things."

It will be interesting to see what kind of wrath a Lord of the Stars wreaks. Falling meteors could decimate the landscape. If he had that kind of power, Mab wanted very much to know about it. Either way she looked forward to seeing the other fae in action.

"I will be interested to see what you do, Lord Balem."

The witches will not be prepared for their first claim but Mab suspects it won't take them long to start forming return action. Even if they don't see the excitement they wish on the first few days, someone will push back eventually. And that is what she looks forward to.

"I'll be interested in seeing what all of us do," he said, "I've seen individual humans or small groups try to go against us before, but never anything on this scale. I'm certain it will be quite the sight."

Oh, he did love putting others in their place. He was angry at the fact that any witches dared to stand against them, but did relish the opportunity to strike back.

They had discussed some of this at the fae gathering already but it did send a thrill through her to see the hungry gleam in his eyes that she felt in her own.

She took a moment to focus again, rather than let themselves get swept away like mortal children on Christmas Eve. She breathed in and back out once, letting that thrill die down to burn as an ember in her mind, waiting to flare to life when it was useful.

Straightening she moved forward to where he stood, one hand settling on his arm, an intimate gesture that seemed completely natural to her. "There is little more of interest to see in my new home, but if you wish I can continue the tour." She did not have a collection as he did, unless one counted the occasional frozen tableau of various creatures and plants sprinkled throughout, their beauty preserved encased in diamond-like shards of ice or frosted over with milky beauty.

"Yes, please continue," he said, not flinching at the touch.

He still felt warm despite being surrounded by cold, warmer than a human at least.

Her hand slid down his arm and she noted how warm it was even through the fine fabric of his shirt before turning to lead him on through a formal dining room big enough to host a small horde, the long table is some sort of stone, perhaps marble and stretches the length of the room, chairs lining the sides, high backed and cushioned. Icicle chandeliers hung along the length of the table as well. Along the wall were tapestries of the far north, here a scene of yetis in battle, crystalline blue armor with gold accents, blood splashed across the white background in dark red spots. There a landscape with a glacier slipping down the side of a mountain into a fjord.

"I was able to bring some of my belongings with me when I returned." She motioned to the tapestries that broke up the cold feeling of the room giving it textures. She would not rattle around her home nearly as much as he might but it was large enough to feel empty with no other fae in sight even as they left the dining room and slipped through an expansive kitchen that was more functional that beautiful. From the kitchen they returned back through the main foyer and she began walking up the icy steps, holding out her hand for him to walk along side her. It was unlikely he'd slip and fall but he was there as a guest and she should not take chances.

Ah, art. Now this was up his alley, even if they weren't paintings of him. e could appreciate almost any form of art, and his fellow fae tended to have good taste as well. He took a moment to admire them before answering. The emptiness of the house didn't bother him, either, he was used to it living mostly alone in a castle built for many.

"It would be a shame to lose all your belongings. I'm glad you got to keep some of them," he said, taking her hand as they walked up the stairs. If anyone tried to take his belongings away from him, he knew he'd kick up quite a destructive fuss about it.

The touch let her power extend through him enough to keep his footing sure as they walked up the stairs, passing a frozen statue of a kneeling woman on the landing, her eyes closed and head bowed, a green dress spread out around her and a riot of red hair falling down her back to pool at her hips.

Mab has less attachment to her worldly goods. What she needs she can create for the most part. But it was nice to bring some things along. "Not lost, just left behind. I can call for them to be brought if necessary." They were still up north in the Norwegian version of the Other Realm.

She stepped into a large room, a long fireplace set along the far wall, about halfway up with flame burning warm. Couches were strewn about and here was where the majority of what she'd brought back were. A library of books. Knowledge was something she valued. And it made for great bargaining with others. Pools of light showed next to seats where stalagmite style icicles thrust up from the floor and sent out a cool glow bright enough to read by. "My Library.

Balem didn't have a whole library - just the books he was particularly interested in or that had been given to him as gifts over the years - but he still loved to read when he got the chance. Even at his age he didn't know everything, and humans were making so many advancements now that it was hard to keep up.

"Very impressive. I shall have to borrow some, sometime."

It was pleasing to have another fae impressed. Especially one with Balem's personal ego. And to know she had something he might wish to trade for. It was convenient to know. "I am certain we can come to an arrangement." She replied.

She let him take a moment to take everything in before moving back out to the hallway. They passed a frozen tree that appeared to grow out of the ground, it's leaves still green inside crystal clear ice and robin frozen on a branch, it's red breast a splash of bright color in the cool colored home. "Guest quarters." She moved slowly enough for him to see into bedrooms, several with large beds strewn with inviting sheets and piles of fur each with it's own fireplace, some cozy furniture and ice sculptures here and there opening into their own bathrooms. They passed solid wall which hid a door to her own quarters but those were really no one's business and it was more secure not to share them. There were more guest quarters on the other side and some servants quarters at the end of the hallways smaller and not quite as extravagantly appointed but her servants really had nothing to complain about either. Any place she might hold for other means were well hidden.

"And that would bring us back down to the ballroom." she murmured as they started back down the stairs on the other side and her head tilted in the direction opposite the sitting room he'd received his drink within. It took up that entire lower wing of the house matching the space used for sitting room, dining room and kitchens on the other side.

“I thank you very much for this tour, Lady Mab, and for the drinks,” he said, “And for allowing me to be the first to see it. Moving is always difficult, but I’m certain you’ll fit in well.”

As much as he liked to be flattered, he tended to flatter his fellow fae in return (the ones who seemed powerful enough to be worthwhile, at least). He assumed that they would, for the most part, be like him in nature and would react favorably to it.

“I should return home, for now. I have much to do and the stars are well-aligned tonight,” he said, giving a small nod, “But I’m certain we shall meet again soon.”

Mab inclined her head as they reached the door. "It was a pleasure, Lord Balem." She replied, touching the wall with the palm of her hand so that it opened again for him. "I suspect I shall find my pace soon enough."

Her eyes drifted out the doorway and then back to Balem. "I shall not keep you. Best wishes on the work you must embark upon." Something tinkled from outside, likely icicles brushing one another.

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Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky [Open]

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