Litha Feast (Open to all court members and human guests, dated for the 21st)

[detectiveofthewest]

The grounds were brightly lit and festooned with decoration: trees covered in sweet-smelling dew, leaves of gold and red, vividly-colored streamers woven with thread finer than spider's silk. All around, the tables were piled high with all the food and wine one might expect of a grand feast. (Apparently, the fae had spared no expense.)

The Seelie King and Queen were present, though distanced from the rest of the revellers -- and quite a few revellers there were. Men and women with petals in their hair, clothes of vibrant silk and satin, and a rainbow of rare feathers and gems. Some looked human, some looked animal. Some, such as in the case of a well-dressed gentleman with skin like birch bark, looked like none of the above.

Comments

[stauncherhearted]

Those cheekbones could cut glass, make no mistake. "it's a feast for the eyes," she responds, but holds up her own flask.

"But I'm sure you are, though." He had to be fae, just LOOK AT THOSE CHEEKBONES.

[entitles]

Balem raised an eyebrow at that. Did she mean him, or that it was a well-decorated feast?

"It isn't for me," he said, because although he was fae, he was Unseelie, "But nonetheless, it's pleasant. The food is delicious."

Delicious, but full of some unwanted side-effects, for humans at least. He doubted she'd take the bait, but it was worth a try.

[stauncherhearted]

Maybe it was about both. You never know, do you, space Napoleon?

"I'm sure it is, but I'll have to pass." She smiled kindly all the same. "You're hardly the first to try to get me to eat something here."

[entitles]

"A wise decision, I suppose," he said, "You've known our kind before now, then?"

He thought he could sense something about her - she didn't seem like an ordinary human - but there were so many different types of beings around that it was hard to say for sure.

[stauncherhearted]

"I have," was her response. No use giving up information immediately.

Nancy's hand moved to the necklace she wore, playing idly with the charm. It was a present she'd received for winning the contest some years back, and wore it yearly, to explain to anyone who couldn't be bothered to ask why she was there.

"This isn't my first time around here." He could ask if he wanted. But she didn't really feel the need to explain herself.

[entitles]

"And what does Miss Redbright think of that?" he said, because he was fairly certain that she was a witch, and Redbright wasn't fond of fae, so either this girl was being sneaky or she didn't care what Redbright thought.

[stauncherhearted]

It's the cheekbones, right? Give her away as a witch every time.

"Hell if I know or care," is the response Nancy gives him, as she takes a sip of her private human gin. "Never cared to go to her school."

[entitles]

"And her coven?" he asked, eyebrow raised, "Have you cared to join that?"

[stauncherhearted]

"Not in the slightest." Circle Midnight is how she rolled. They allowed her more freedom than she would have otherwise, in terms of magic. And with how she was raised, she needed all the freedom she could get.

[entitles]

"Then it appears we have something in common," he said, "That woman and her supporters would like to keep us out of London."

[stauncherhearted]

"I know." She shakes her head. "I try to stay out of politics as much as I can, but... I don't like what this'll mean for my friends and I. You can't just ban those you don't like from coming in."

[entitles]

"Currently they - and the Night Council - face very little pushback from the groups they malign," he said, "I'd prefer not to be involved in the politics of humans, but I'll not be ordered around."

He crossed his arms, scoffing. "And what's the saying? The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy eyes Balem appraisingly. Her chin tilts up slightly as she considers his words.

"You have something in mind." Friendship, high-five?

[entitles]

"Friend may be too strong a word," he said, because he took a while to warm up to, especially for humans, "But I'll support anything that diminishes Daybreak or Redbright territory, and will offer freedom towards those with similar goals in any place I stake a claim on. As long as the favor is returned, of course."

Because that's business, he doesn't give without taking.

[stauncherhearted]

So, no high-fives. Fair.

"Of course," she said carefully, by way of agreeing. "I don't know if there's going to be a push on our end, but... If you or your allies were to do so... Certainly."

She knows business. Perhaps not as much as he did, but she knew how things worked in this sort of life.

[entitles]

He nodded, "I'm glad we can see eye-to-eye. My aid is not often given."

He says it like even offering to support anyone is the greatest gift they could ever hope to receive.

"I'm not certain of our plans just yet, but keep watch. The Council and their allies grow too confident, and we'll not stand for it for long."

[stauncherhearted]

"I'm honored, then." He seemed so proud of himself, but she knew that was often common amongst the fae. Best to play along. But it was good, to have powerful allies. Especially those who weren't creepy old men.

Nancy nods. "I will, I promise you." A pause. "Your name? I would like to know the name of the man who's given me his aid."

[entitles]

"My true name is not easily given, and those who have it would often rather forget," he said, because he was a granter of wishes and the temptation was strong in some, "But you can call me Cephei, several others know me by that name."

[stauncherhearted]

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Cephei. You can call me Nancy." No middle name. Certainly no last name, though she had no idea what her birth surname was. Truthfully, she just preferred 'Nancy'. But that's not exactly how names worked.

[entitles]

"Then until we meet again, Nancy," he said with a nod, "I do hope you enjoy the feast."

[stauncherhearted]

"Until then," Nancy agreed.