[AW] a midsummer night's dream

[Pavetta]

p a v e t t a - - - She recalled the evening spent in the Night Court, surrounded by shadows and exotic strangers. A man with golden eyes and a black mask. More shadows, the perfume of lavender on her skin. There had been no expectations, no exchange of names, no promises. Just drinks in the darkness, firelight in their eyes. She could be anyone she chose, any personality she desired, because who would know any better? A night of discovery and adventure, intrigue and mystery all beneath the moon cloud and stars.  Dawn had come too soon. “I suppose you are right,” Pavetta agreed with a sigh, startled by the truth the unicorn offered and feeling somewhat foolish for attempting to be something she wasn’t. The paint on Pavetta’s cheek chafed; she fought the urge to scrape it off. Pavetta couldn’t recall meeting the ebony unicorn before, surely she would have remembered such an encounter. The unicorn’s smile was chilling, her silver gaze piercing. No, Pavetta would remember such a woman. The stranger had the proud, regal bearing of a sorceress, the prowess of a cunning panther. Scars littered the sleek black skin. A warrior perhaps. Other worldly, a queen. It seemed like Pavetta should feel deep unease in such a profound, dark presence, but instead found the stranger's company oddly comforting. Their conversation seemed easy; not bogged down by faked pleasantries or the exchange of woven floral crowns. Trying not to stare too outright, Pavetta followed the stranger’s gesture to the fairy tale scene before them. Glowing lanterns, music floating sweetly through the air. Laughter of children; men and women wearing flowers in their hair and glittering paint on their skin. “I don’t know,” Pavetta admitted truthfully, feeling as though her answer wasn’t right, wasn’t good enough, and probably disappointing. And then she found it even more bewildering that she cared about the stranger’s opinion at all. The intensity of the woman’s silver gaze was burning, scrutinizing. What does she see? Who is she? It was clear she was of old, ancient unicorn bloodlines, far more pure than Pavetta’s scattered unicorn heritage. Surely she wasn't from the Dawn Court, nor even Novus in its entirety. “You’re not from around here.” Blunt, straightforward, burning curiosity lingering in her voice. Was this woman from a world of death and chaos and monsters, too? a pearl in pigshit, a diamond on the finger of a rotting corpse, creature in whom nothing, but nothing, remains of an elven woman ---

@Calliope