[P] overture

[Seraphina]

☼ I'M READY FOR THE FIGHT & FATE ☼

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There was something different about this honey-kissed wildflower queen, now, something darker – she didn’t know what it was, yet, but it clung to her pretty smiles and gemstone eyes, a flicker of foreign nightshade, bitter and poisonous. (Perhaps she was just imagining it, but rumors would suggest otherwise, and she couldn’t imagine that she and her Emissary would come to Solterra without reason.) As she and her emissary enter the throne room, escorted by a group of guards in familiar armor, her jaw drew into a firm line; the houses would insist on getting involved in the proceedings, wouldn’t they? She’d thought that someone had interfered with the patrol schedule. Nevermind that, though – if they wanted a show, she would give it to them.

She wouldn’t falter.

Florentine offered her greetings. “Queen Florentine,” The silver responded, crisp and clear as the ringing of a bell; the flower-girl’s curtsey was met with a graceful bow. Dark ears twitched forward to catch her words as she offered a few initial pleasantries – or, well, she assumed that they were pleasantries. For her time spent as an Emissary, Seraphina remained woefully unaccustomed to diplomatic proceedings.

“Congratulations to you, as well.” She hadn’t had the chance to offer her a proper congratulations on her ascension, either; it had happened around the same time. At her question, genuinely concerned, she tilted her head, slightly thoughtful. “I…think that I am adjusting.” She skirted the line of uncertainty and honesty; Seraphina would never admit to vulnerability (though largely out of necessity, rather than pride), but she didn’t want to claim too much stability in a land like Solterra.“It has all been…unexpected, and sudden, but the ground seems to be evening out beneath me. Your healers were a great help, after Maxence’s passing.” She didn’t like to think about that, though; sometimes when she closed her eyes, she could still see the Teryr, great wings blocking out the sun. (She knew, deep down, that there was nothing she could have done for Maxence. Somehow, she still felt responsible.)

She kept her gaze trained on Florentine, though, and turned her question back on her. “And what of you? Are you well?” Somehow, she didn’t think so. Something was wrong - but she didn’t know what it was, and she was not sure that she would understand it, even if she did. She barely knew Florentine, but she did know that they were two very different kinds of girl ruling two very different kinds of kingdoms. Solterra was full of snakes; she could never let her guard down completely, lest she find herself bitten. Florentine…Dusk had always seemed softer, more peaceful. She didn’t underestimate them, exactly, but she knew that they needn’t cultivate such a guarded exterior. Florentine was open. Florentine felt. Seraphina barely remembered what that meant, much as she tried to. “I regret that I was unable to attend your Winter Festival – unfortunately, the time surrounding Maxence’s passing was…a whirlwind. It seems that we have both had a great deal to attend to,” She added, as something of an afterthought; she didn’t want her to think her absence an offense. Avdotya had attended, or so she had heard, and she had hoped that was enough. It wasn’t as though Seraphina was comfortable in parties, anyways. She was sure that she would be expected to host one in Solterra eventually, – perhaps a summer sun festival – but she had every intention of being as uninvolved as possible with the proceedings.

Florentine introduced her Emissary, then, and her mismatched gaze turned on the pegasus. “Of course.” She dipped her head to the rose-red Emissary, regarding her thoughtfully. She still remembered her days as an Emissary, and the inevitable nerves that came with her earliest diplomatic endeavors. “It is a pleasure, Cyrene. Neither of you need to be so formal; Seraphina is fine.” For her stiff composure, the silver queen disliked the proceedings of court, and the crown still sat uncomfortably on her brow. She could see some of the guards exchanging unhappy glances, but she ignored them.

She didn’t ask what the purpose of their visit was – not yet. There would be time enough for that after they had gotten the necessary formalities out of the way.

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tags || @Florentine @Cyrene
notes || <3

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