psychoshenanigans | Goodnight // PSL

[oh, it is a lovely day. the sun is out, but it isn't glaring. the clouds are mild and unobtrusive. good thing, too, as Saorise never agrees to see guests when it rains.

what may have once been a central temple of sorts (judging by the pale, smooth stone floor, marble steps, and particularly oppressive rafters--reaching up like fingers into the shadows of the ceiling) has been redecorated in a style the original architect surely hadn't intended. tables, chairs, and couches of clashing style sit at one end. on the other end, the already low-set throne is covered in draped in furs, soft cloth, and more cushions than one person could possibly need.

or so Zhas says, when he thinks mother dearest isn't listening. pushing her heavy form up from where she was already sitting on the floor (against the throne, yes, but certainly not sitting on it), Saoirse's eyes and smile brighten up a little when she sees that her visitors have arrived.]

Ah, you've made it. Wonderful, please come closer.

[there's quite a bit of room between the throne and the furniture. Zhas slinks away to a corner, where he'll stand vigilantly for as long as he still has foolish willpower. Saoirse beckons her guest closer with a loose wave of her hand, long fingers curling through the air.]

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[he's from another world, certainly--a chip of sharp onyx amongst old roses and ivory--but he finds this lair full of comfortable nostalgia. he misses the old places that stood before the new world took them over, yawning and aching with age, and he misses the things that dwelled within them. nowadays, the only creatures with any age to them would sooner try to end him than sit and reminisce, so this will be a welcome visit. he's really been looking forward to it.

and unlike the lady before him, he cuts a sleek shape. walking tall and wrapped tight in black, he made sure to look his best, even dressing his feral general in a jacket to match. carrying a bundle of gifts, she follows right at his heel as he he clicks along, taking time to appreciate the grandeur of the room on his way to the throne.]

You do have a lovely home; it's even more beautiful than I had imagined. Thank you again for the invitation.

[he smiles down as he reaches her, as if he finds nothing odd about her choice of seat, and offers a hand.]

[and in a rare move, he was invited entirely at Saoirse's request. no one else had even heard of him a month ago, when she started insisting that someone send a message down to "a waiting king" in a part of the world they had no records of ever contacting before.

but she, the Red Queen and Eater of Kin, knew where the compass of the game was pointing. her loyal huntsman found her the right messenger for the job, and now they're here--together, as things should be.

she smiles deeply, with eyes for nothing but the man in front of her. what a lovely man, what a gentleman. she offers up her own hand, placing it expectantly his care.]

You are very welcome. It is so rare for a new face to appear, I'm quite honored that you could grace us with your time.

[a set of beaded bracelets jingle lightly as her hands are moved. she is not quite as sharply dressed as her visitor, but she did go out of her way to wear one of her nicer gowns--deep red, of course, like her eyes, and a very deep cut hanging comfortably from her shoulders.]

Forgive me if I do not stand.

[she does not say why, but perhaps it doesn't need to be said. both guests can feel a presence slither unobtrusively up in those rafters; though he's not much more than a shadow these days, even Saoirse is not so far-gone that she doesn't have some measure of immediate protection, just in case.]

Edited 2016-05-03 01:08 (UTC)

[his general's attention slides quickly upwards as something goes shifting around in the hidden places above--forgive her if she is a little wary of ambulatory shadows--but Tek doesn't bat an eye. his attention never strays from his gracious host, whose hand he brushes lips against. this seems like the perfect greeting to indulge in, and he isn't about to spoil it on minding someone else's underlings.]

Only if you don't mind that I sit.

[and so he finds a seat at a polite proximity to the Lady of the house, and motions for his general to finally hand over the bundle that she's been carrying.]

I hope it's appropriate that I brought gifts. I had to do a bit of guesswork, understandably... and in the end, I just followed a hunch.

[and by the look of the folds of cloth, rich and soft and golden, his instincts may be a little uncanny.]

[she sits up a little straighter, between his proper greeting and his making himself comfortable. it has absolutely nothing to do with the little cloud of jealous energy beginning to storm itself up in the corner.

but look now, she's well and awake enough to accept gifts! she gasps and giggles softly, making her sound more like a young schoolgirl than an inhuman monstrosity. finally taking note of Saeliss, the Queen sends a less-deserving pillow tumbling down the stairs with a flick of her bare foot.]

What a wonderful thing you are. [she is clearly addressing the girl, staring intently into her eyes. this vampire lord has a knack for making people feel... exposed.] Have you been carrying that all this way, darling...?

[Saeliss may be the only one standing out of the three of them, but she is very aware of exactly how small she is. she does well, though--setting her jaw in the quiet, severe way that obedient children tend to do--and offers the bundle of cloth treasures out to her host. she tries so hard to be all business, keeping her mouth shut and buttoning up her defenses as well as she can, in the hope that she'll be dismissed afterward.

maybe the red woman's interest will pass, and the meeting can move on to a focus that isn't herself.

but, by the pride in Tekhetsio's smile, he's enjoying his general being put on display a little too much.]

She has--and never a word of complaint. I'm sure she's happy to help.

Edited 2016-05-03 05:36 (UTC)

[she may have expected Tekhetsio to do the talking, by the way she carries on as though the answer came from Saeliss herself.]

You'll cut a path to the stars, darling. Zhas does the very same thing... [rolling her head back in the dragon lord's direction, like her bones are loose.] ...That funny thing with the jaw when he's trying to be serious.

[and then she holds her arms up towards Saeliss--not looking at her, but it's obvious she would like things to be deposited there.]

[and Saeliss is quick to lay the offerings in the queen's lap, though she still has to wait for a signal from her keeper if she wants to move more than a polite step back from the whole ordeal.

and Tek isn't giving it, yet. whether aware of Saeliss' discomfort or not, he leaves his attention squarely on the conversation at hand, and he gestures loosely toward the corner that the skullfaced guardian had skulked away to.]

The boy, with the paint? [he hadn't bothered to learn any names, here.] Oh, I can imagine it.

That is him, yes. [as if that, out of all the things that have already been said, needs to be clarified. she nods, bringing the bundles of cloth closer and sluggishly bringing her head back around to inspect them.

said "boy" doesn't really want to be talked about any more than Saeliss does, but he is at least used to hearing his Queen say things about him as if he was not in the room.]

It seems he will be in good company. I'm glad. [her expression slips away to something duller as she feels and pinches the fabric together between her fingers.] Competence is hard to find, loyalty even more so.

[he watches the way her sharp fingers busy with the fabric, and it's hard not to drift as well, then.]

I suppose that's why we keep them as close as we do.

[and his mind wanders with depth of meaning behind that, in several different directions, but he's still quick. Saeliss' expectant presence helps keep him grounded, and it's only a moment or two before he lifts his eyes again with a more present smile.]

It is nice to find someone with similar tastes. It has been ages since I've been in such fine company--especially with the world changing the way it has been.

[which is a bit of an understatement, but it's maybe best not to dwell on the actual gravity of these things.]

[she lifts her gaze again, her face lifting to meet Tek's eyes as if she's surprised to realize that he's still there. this is a look she'll likely have many times over the course of the night--and one can imagine how such a terrible thing as her still has any followers. she's cute, eyes a little wide, seeming innocent save for the persistent color of blood.]

Oh, I'm flattered. I'll admit that I have never much enjoyed the company of others... Such as myself...

[even after all of these years, the admittance of being a vampire does not spill off her tongue as it should. she moves them right along, narrowing her eyes again to complain, still absently feeling at the fabrics in her lap.]

We're a very old-fashioned sort, but it hasn't aged well. The new ones are tasteless and the old ones are far too snotty.

Goodnight // PSL

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