All Welcome The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight

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The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Seree - 01-06-2018

It seemed that in the wake of the setting sun, a few stars had begun to creep out into the darkening sky.

The first of them to cross the borders and enter a realm too early for their allotted time was a star with a coat as dark as the night they represented, adorned with the mossy green of spring and with two emeralds in place of eyes. Adorning their skull was a crown of golden antlers, a crown of sunlight to adorn the night.

The stars they came to represent twinkled in their eyes as the equine slipped easily from the trees, emerging onto the edges of the fields as the distant flickering of fire light enticed their senses. They shook their hooves lightly, removing an attached petal that had clung to their fetlocks with easy grace. They had taken a slight detour to walk the boardwalks in the swamplands, enjoying the soft torchlight and pawing at the dangling glass baubles with a curious hoof, watching how they danced and spun as they shimmered in the flickering light. It seemed that some of the petals that had lined the boardwalks wanted to come with them.

They stepped forwards, green hooves sinking into the soft layer of snow on the ground, the spring-like colors being swallowed up like the plant life had been by the very same substance. Their ears twitched as they trod across a clean, untouched expanse. There was such a childish joy to be had in stomping around in fresh snow.

Seree may have indulged in a few bounding jumps here and there, sending flurries of white crystals flying up around them with their laying as they played like a foal, kicking at the fallen snow.

But while the snow was ever so much fun, it would be present throughout all of winter, and they could find it back in Denocte.

These things could not be found in Denocte.

Well, things of similar kind could, but not these festivities in particular. For instance, they would be quite hard pressed to find such lovely tupelo wine back in Denocte's borders, but here, it overflowed in great abundance, the fruits having been plucked from the trees in the swamp land in the autumn to ferment them for winter festivities.

As the Night Court's Champion of Healing came upon a small gathering by firelight, they were quick to snag one of the bottles of that very substance left out among the refreshment with their telekinesis, raising it to their lips and downing nearly half of it in one go before pausing for breath. Their tongue ran over their lips as the alcohol promised to sing in their veins, a placebo effect already taking place as their body seemed to burn with the fiery need to dance and make merriment.

Of course, such was often their normal state as well, so little could be said for it being the effects of the alcohol alone. It was only emboldened by the substance.

Gold and red decked the surrounding areas, happy voices and celebratory conversation filling the air as horses from all reaches gathered together to celebrate the coming of spring. Seree said nothing, only a smile gracing their lips and the only sound of their voice being that of their laughter as they gave carefree abandon to their appreciation of the witty humor in the conversation. They momentarily found themselves with a dilemma as they went to investigate some of the sweet treats to be had, but found that they would not be able to sustain both of the confections they wished to try and their drink with their telekinesis, it was too much.

With a much put upon sigh, the equine set their bottle down gently so that they might pick up a pastry of sweet, fruit stuffing, and one of powdered sugar. They hurriedly shoved nearly half of the powdered sugar confection into their mouth at once, making a very happy noise with pricked ears as the flavor hit their tongue. It wasn't the most extravagant of treats, but it was quite delicious nonetheless. They were quick to polish it off, now having the ability to pick their drink back up again, of which they indulged in a swig after their bite to eat.

With powdered sugar on their lips, Seree rejoined the fireside group, the call to dance momentarily held at bay as they listened to words traded and enjoyed some sweet refreshments.

OOC: This thread is open for all! Seree's here to meet new peeps and reconnect with those they've known before. They haven't been in many threads yet, but those they have threaded with are more than welcome to recognize them and say hello! And anyone else is welcome to message me about having 'met' Seree before as well, as they wandered Novus for a year before coming to Night, so everyone's welcome to come say hi! Just be warned you may be dragged into a bit of dancing at some point. ;)

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Eik - 01-10-2018

He came not knowing what to expect, having never known food nor drink nor dance like this. In a word he would call it lavish-- and of course, he enjoys it. But he can't help but feel like he doesn't understand what is happening, and where he belongs in all of this. There are a few familiar faces he looks for in particular, hoping for some sort of anchor in this sea of strangers. He lingers towards the outskirts of the festivities, which in some ways are rowdier than the center, but less crowded.

His wandering brings him to a small floor where a group of horses dance in a blissful, flowing way. The only comparison he has is to a river. Naturally, he is mesmerized. With wide eyes he accepts a drink from a giggling stranger in a red veil, followed by an unusual pastry that leaves a sticky powder on his lips. She twirls and melts away before he can ask who she is and what it was she gave him. A warm feeling grows outwards from the pit of his belly, followed by a rush of anxiety as he questions what is happening to him, and then the warmth overtakes him and he feels... good. Really good, for the first time in as long as he can remember.

He laughs, and isn't sure if he's laughing out loud or not or on the inside- the laughter seems to be everywhere, yet upon listening- nowhere. Fears and troubles melt away and he's weaving through the growing crowd, where once he would shirk at the touch of another. He's following fireflies, their warm glow reflected in his dark eyes, when he realizes that they aren't fireflies but embers, and he is standing before a fire where quiet conversation hangs lightly on smoke-filled air.

When he meets their gaze time falls away and it is summer and he is the oak tree, the great oak tree he was born beneath. He feels his roots deep beneath the fertile soil and each and every leaf soaking up the sun and the tough little acorns slowly (or is it quickly? time is odd here) growing. He remembers his birth from an acorn not so different from the ones growing from him, and he reaches even further back, to remember being the oak that grew the acorn that was him.

And then time comes rudely barging back in, and Eik is Eik again, horseflesh and blood and bone.

"Oh." He exhales. Rootless.

It feels suddenly as if he is missing a part of him, but this is a thought he will ponder later, when he wakes drenched in sweat and head pounding.

He feels safe and warm and thinks it must be the magic of their kind eyes. He smiles at them, the warm spell of the simbelweed pastry turning him into an extrovert. Surely tomorrow his throat and lips will hurt from all the speaking and smiling he's done tonight. "Are you summer?" He calls across the fire, for the first time not at all afraid of the flames.

- - -
There is no better way to know us
E I K
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood

@Seree hope you don't mind me sticking delirious Eik on you! Its really the only way to get him to stay at a party xD

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Seree - 01-27-2018

People came and went from the throng, and at one point, Seree reared upon their back hooves to swipe at the air in enthusiasm at a most glorious proposal! They soon forgot what it was, already moving onto their third bottle of the quite delicious wine at this point, empty containers littered about their hooves. They took remarkably good care to move them out of the way, however, so as to keep them intact to be picked up later. They wouldn't want to sully the Dusk Court's lands.

A pleasant buzz had long since settled over them, yet a dancer's grace kept them steady on their hooves as they finally began interjecting into the conversation, belly having been contentedly filled with sweet goods, and perhaps the occasional mouthful or two of grass simply taken from the ground wherever they stood. Too much sugar would make them feel rather ill, after all, and they knew they were already to suffer the effects of so much drink in the morning.

After all, they were hardly done drinking yet, best to keep whatever illnesses would plague them to a minimum and keep their belly calmed with proper foliage from time to time. After all, it wasn't like they necessarily disliked the taste of the grasses, even if it was winter time. And it could always be washed down with another drink.

Speaking of, their bottle was empty. They frowned for a moment, before some kind soul on the fireside noticed their dilemma and passed them a new one. They gave an excited snort and an enthusiastic gratitude as they tucked their empty bottle with the others and turned back to continue talking.

But in the exchange, they had noticed something in the corner of their eye.

They were being watched.

Green eyes turned to better see who there was to meet, and the dumbfounded look of an unknown man met their own gaze. He looked almost as though he was in awe of them. Seree giggled quietly, a slight hiccup finding its way into the noise as a most blinding smile split their face, the horse craning their neck to better see their new friend across the flames.

He called out first.

"Are you summer?"

For a moment, they wondered if he was asking them if that was their name. No, of course not, their name was Seree Quyi, always had been. Born years ago to the Day Court and long since having found a home in the night and the darkness. Then, their mind seemed to reach the same plane that he was on, and their ears perked up in pleasant understanding before their face twisted in serious thought.

Hmm...

Well, they had always rather thought of themself as spring. As the time when life broke free of winter's cold and light was brought back into the world. But they supposed he was also right, in a way. They hadn't much considered being summer before, having always had negative connotations with the heat, simply because they were much too darkly colored to be comfortable under the burning sun. But no, they supposed he was right. Summer was the time when plant life flourished the most in much of the world, and when grasses were sweetest and life the most vibrant.

And was that not always what they strove to be? Live life to the fullest, and with a smile as blinding as the sun and laughter as fanciful as the sun's rays? But they were also still a healer, and still one who brought life out of places where it seemed impossible, they were still spring.

Having found their answer, they nodded, then reached out with their limited telekinesis, passing their new friend the sweet wine across the flames for him to grab. Their voice called out over the din in kind, smile just as bright as ever.

"I'd say I'm the time between spring and summer, bringing new life but with all the warmth of summer!"

@~~Eik~~

OOC: Lol, Seree's well on their way to being drunk anyway so it's fine. And sorry for the delay, started a new semester and got caught up in the whirlwind. ^^;

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Eik - 01-29-2018

Eik is not quite sure what to make of them but he knows they are lovely. He hesitates as they cheerfully pass him the bottle, still unused to yielding this magic. It is like waking up one morning and learning for the first time you have a tail.

Telekinesis is a skill that takes some practice to master, especially if you do not grow up with it. Inebriation makes it that much harder for him to grasp at the bottle, but, lips pursed in concentration, he manages to do so without spilling the delightful liquid within. He clumsily draws the bottle to his lips and takes a swig.

"I think now I will always remember you during that time of year." He is blissfully unaware that he might wake up tomorrow with very few memories of this night.

"I'm..." His breath rushes in and for a moment is caught in his chest, as he realizes the next words are not coming to him. What was it he had said once, not that long ago? That he was a ghost? That felt right at the time, but not now. Even his own name doesn't seem to suit him anymore. A small, concerned frown comes and quickly goes.He takes another swig, this one smaller, a somber and half-puzzled expression crossing his face.

"I'm winter." He says finally. Deliberately, like a punctuation mark. He does not elaborate-- even intoxicated, he does not speak much of himself unless prodded. After a moment of meeting their warm, joyous gaze, he stumbles closer and shakily raises the bottle to their lips. Body hot with intoxication and the warmth of the fire, he lifts his face to the snow that begins to gently fall. He imagines hearing a sizzle as each snowflake hits his skin, or perhaps his senses are simply awakened. His scars are aching and there are a hundred open doors in him that are usually closed. His shadows are gone

(or rather, watching in silent, sneering amusement)

and the world has so many details he could spend a lifetime describing them all. He looks to the sky, to the stars that burrow through the clouds in patchy spots, and a sense of smallness hits him in a cold wave.

Eik turns his gaze back to the green-eyed end of spring. Since they are closer now, just feet apart, he does not have to raise his voice over the crackle of fire and the buzz of the conversation around them. "I don't know if I'm imagining you." He admits plainly, steam rising from his breath and floating away like some sad small part of him. He half expects to blink and find himself standing alone in the snow, only his breath for company, that and the sudden sound of a hundred doors slamming closed.

- - -
There is no better way to know us
E I K
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood

@Seree <3 no worries

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Seree - 02-20-2018

He seems to be struggling a little bit, but they give a pleased snort when he finally manages. They would have been more than willing to aid him if need be, but it was nice to see him standing on his own four hooves, and he himself seems pleased with his accomplishment and the reward of the sweet liquid that it brings with it.

"I think now I will always remember you during that time of year."

Seree cannot help but to bump their shoulder to his ever so slightly, very gentle and hardly more than a brush of flesh on flesh, as the last thing they want is to send him sprawling, but it is still a playful gesture nonetheless as humor curls at their lips.

"And yet you don't even know my name."

The comment is teasing, playful. It is an oversight on his part, but they take no offense as they have not asked the same. In common courtesy, both would have been considered rude. But this was a party, and Seree Quyi was rarely one to care as it was. A smile and an action spoke more about a person than a name ever could. A name was simply a sound that would allow one to draw the attention of another by indicating exactly to whom one spoke, overall, it meant little in the grand scheme of things. One could change a name a thousand times and still be the same person in the end. So they made their comment with only humor in their heart.

"I'm..."

They tilted their head, smiling invitingly as they looked at him, wondering what he had to say. A name, or to keep this game of seasons going. After all, perhaps saying that they were the moment between spring and summer said far more about their nature than any comment collection of syllables used to indicate their presence.

"I'm winter."

They think for a moment to ask what it is he means, before finding the bottle once more returned to their lips. They waste little time in grasping it with their own magic, releasing him from the efforts of doing so and tilting it back to take another swig. They shook it lightly as they lowered it down, close to empty, but with a few mouthfuls left. Besides, there was always more, this was a party after all.

More words draw their attention away from the fermented liquid.

"I don't know if I'm imagining you."

A light laugh bubbles from their lips, not mocking in any capacity. Such was not their way.

"Well, I should certainly hope not. Otherwise my patients are being treated by a figment of the imagination, and I rather think ghosts and made up stories aren't the best at healing, it needs the touch of the living and real, don't you agree?"

They paused, tilting their head, a contemplative look crossing their features.

"Of course, I have heard it said that 'laughter is the best medicine'. So maybe sometimes made up stories can be good healers, if they promote healing in their own way."

They tapped the rim of the bottle against their lips in thought, before shrugging and simply continuing to smile. Even if it was so, stories couldn't stop someone from bleeding out. So in the end, they were still needed to treat, and still most certainly needed to be real to do so.

@~~Eik~~

OOC: Did someone ask for another horrible delay? xD

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Eik - 02-26-2018

A brush of flesh against his shoulder, so casual, sets his scars on fire. Some primal nature, smothered by drink but not altogether gone,

some small sharp part of him, some viscous darkness,

pins his ears back and draws his head up, ready to snap at the intrusion. The instinct is fast and pure but it fades before he can act upon it- leaving him looking quite angry and hunched up. He relaxes quickly, averting his eyes sheepishly and wondering if he should explain himself or at least say sorry.

And yet you don't even know my name... He returns his gaze to theirs, still feeling embarrassed and a little flustered, but tries to listen to their words through his emotions. Somehow a name would ruin it all, the illusion would be shattered and the world would come rushing back in startling, unwelcome sobriety. And so he does not respond, not in words at least, only murmuring a quiet, drunken "hmmm" in agreement. Yes, he does not even know their name. And they do not know his is the (uncharacteristically) playful gleam in his eye. If this is a game, it is a foolish one and he regrets dragging them into it... but it is too late now for normal.

(riddles and roads; all things lead to summer and all away from it, the grand show trumpets on)

It is now his turn to brush his shoulder against them in an odd sort of apology for his behavior earlier. As if to show that the touch was not unwanted, gods no, simply a surprise.

He listens to their laughter silently, though not sternly- a comfortable calm has settled over him, that and a tingly feeling in his hooves that all is well and good in the world. And when they speak he listens carefully, with a curious seriousness that is perhaps unbefitting of a party. Perhaps it would not come as a surprise that this is his first party.

"So you're a healer?" He not surprised. They have that glow to them that he's seen in many a healer, a love that gives them the strength to do what few can. But he is curious about them, and this is why instead of answering one question he asks another.

Laughter, the best medicine?? His ears flick back in uncertainty- is this a joke or is she serious? He's been in Novus almost a year now, and it is tiresome to constantly be unsure what is real and what is simply different. "I've never heard of laughter curing anything." He says, tentative and serious and still a little suspicious that she may be pulling his leg, so to speak. He thinks about it a little more... "We told stories to keep warm at night, and to take some pain from the dying..." He frowns slightly in thought, but his thoughts are soon distracted by a young mare walking towards them with a tray of pillowy, decadent-looking treats. "What are those?" He asks, looking back and forth from green-eyed friend to platter, eyes widening in intrigue.

- - -
There is no better way to know us
E I K
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood

@Seree seree is so cute <33 eik so odd -sigh-

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Seree - 05-13-2018

I danced among the leaves Seree glorious and gay.

They stepped back when he seemed to flinch away from contact, giving a soft snort as ears flickered. They did not mean to intrude and make the man uncomfortable. They would not wish to do so no matter his temperament, but even more so given that as of right now, he seemed quite kind.

They would certainly not want to make him uncomfortable.

They only smiled when his expression changed from instinctive aggression to sheepish apology, simply keeping the distance between the two so that he might not feel so intruded on.

He only hums at their comment, but the playfulness in his eyes does not go unnoticed. If anything, it brings the mare to shift their hooves, the energy the playful energy suddenly sparking the desire to run off into the surrounding field and whirl and buck for excitement and the sheer joy of moving. To dance and flail like a mad horse for the simple fun of movement and laughter.

They do not, rather unsure if them suddenly bolting off would incite another response in the man, and not wanting to be too surprising if surprise was upsetting to him.

Seree was an excitable and jubilant mare, sometimes dismissive of things that they really didn't care about, and sometimes 'holier than thou', but not unkind. No matter their opinion of someone, they would never lift a hoof in harm or leave them to suffer when they could do something to help.

He seemed... well, he seemed... touchy.

But not unkind.

He did not seem like a bad man, only one who did not know what to do with himself.

One who had seen things in his past and come out all the more broken for it, but stronger nonetheless.

But it comes as a pleasant surprise when he returns the gesture, and a smile splits their face nearly in two.

"So you're a healer?"

The antlered mare raised a hoof to give a playful affirming gesture.

"As real as they come."

A smile danced on their lips the whole time they spoke, laughter bubbling just under the surface with every word. It was like a burbling brook was threatening to break forth from their body, complete with all the small river stones that it had to jump over to make it to the end, the water leaping and splashing and chattering all the while. The white of their teeth seemed like the smallest bits of froth atop the dancing dollops of water that leapt and pranced through the air as they answered.

They tilted their head as confusion o'er took him, listening carefully to his words.

They didn't let their expression fall as he mentioned the dead and dying.

They thought he looked rather like a warrior.

Seree thought they were so often full of themselves, and fools to spill blood for no reason what so ever. But something had to be said for the haunted look that o'er took the ones who had seen too many battles, who was haunted by the screams of comrades the same way the healer was haunted by rattling death gurgles in the night.

Even if they thought fighting foolish, they had respect for the fallen, and respect for those who had to sit and watch them go.

Perhaps not respect for their profession, but disrespecting the dead was beyond unacceptable.

And they knew just how haunting it was to watch them go.

So they didn't say anything, and rathering than elaborating on their statement, that laughter was simply a way of keeping morale, and sometimes, no matter how good the treatment was, if the patient didn't have a will to live, there was no saving them, they allowed their focus to be pulled by the warrior's gaze to the treats, and their ears perked up in interest.

They trotted forward a few paces as he spoke, snuffling the treats lightly as the mare carrying them paused to allow the other horse to investigate. The two shared a glance and the antlered one plucked several from the tray, careful not to over exert their abilities. Fortunately, the fact that they were as pillowy as they were was an indication of how light they were.

They held some out to the man, raising one to their own face and investigating it again.

"I'm not sure, I haven't exactly been around enough chefs to really know much about deserts, more used to grass..."

They snuffled it, and licked the edge with the tip of their tongue, gaze wandering off as they contemplated.

"I think it tastes... fruity? Citrusy, like lemon or lime..."

They then frowned at it, murmuring quietly.

"Or is that just the powder..."

Coding ©inkbone, only to be used by Lynx/Seree!

OOC: Two years from now we might finish this thread at this rate rip

also I imagined lemon cream puffs

don't know where they're keeping their herds of cows to get milk but suspension of disbelief

RE: The Night Is Illuminated By Firelight - Eik - 05-18-2018

"as real as they come," the stranger says with a playful raise of the hoof. Eik's ears hover backwards, unable to tell in his intoxicated stupor if this is all some big splendid joke. But he quickly decides that joke or no, real or not, his companion is far too fascinating for the truth of things to matter. The alcohol is catching up to him quickly now and his concerns seem to all be floating away. He feels a bit exposed without them, but even that feeling eases away as he relaxes into the river of Seree's laughter.

He tentatively nibbles the morsel they offer him, surprised by the new flavors that bloom across his tongue. In truth, he had hoped it would have the same short hallucinogenic effect his earlier pastry had- but this one lacks the earthy bitterness of the first and is far more enjoyable, so he figures it was crafted for taste and not the experience afterward. He nods his head in gratitude to the serving mare before she turns and disappears into the rolling, swaying crowd.

He has only smelled citrus before, never tasted. And while similar, each type is distinct- lemon, orange, grapefruit, the list goes on. "I think you're right! Lemon. But. How much... d'we really know? about anything??" Mind burst wide open, he (dramatically) looks to where the bonfires blur into the sky in lazy plumes of smoke. He feels his own insides blurring in the same way, boiling away as though there were a fire beneath him. White, orange, grey, and black... What is left, when everything is gone?

His waxing philosophical mind returns to the pastry as he tries in vain to lick the sticky powder from his lips. He finally gives up with a snort. "I prefer apple." he admits, words slurring in drunken disappointment. The drinks run fever-hot through his body. He imagines every scar of his is glowing bright red, because they feel like a hundred embers in his skin. He is sharply aware of the intoxication burning through him and despite the way his head is spinning he wants to run and buck and roll in the snow- not in merriment, as Seree might, but in... something else we aren't sure of. For now, we call it revolution. It consumes his attention, drawing it away from the gooey, citrusy treat. He suddenly, violently, needs to move.

And he wants this goddess (for that is how they appear to him, verdant and timeless and the only solid thing in the currently slip-slippery world) to come with him.

"Lets see the view from up there." he says, pointing with his nose to a large, snow-covered hill that looks over the rolling fields. From the top, they might even be able to see the torches scattered across the tinea swamp. He takes off towards the hill in a crooked line, stumbling over his own legs and bumping into Seree in his utter lack of coordination.

Eik does not turn back to make sure they are following. In his sudden excitement, it does not occur to him that his newfound companion may have tired of his drunken, attention-deficit company.

- - -
There is no better way to know us
E I K
than as two wolves, come separately to a wood

@Seree glad to see you around again! <33 shhh we don't talk about the secret Terrastellan dairy farms (and what goes on there)
edit: I'm gonna count this as his official exit, seree is welcome to follow or not <3