i gots it tatted on my skin
if you fuckin' with my city
Callynite
you know i rep this shit
i got my hands up on your chest
Callynite felt those nervous that had engulfed her ebb away slowly as she stood before the small collection of her citizens now . . . Her citizens, her Court. That thought still felt so unreal to the doe, but the small amount was enough proof, enough awareness of just how quite Delumine had fallen. How were these numbers perceived as . . .. normal? Where had this been okay to Andras? Where had the silence been allowed to converge upon their people, their court, their home? Cally hoped in her reign to see it changed, to see it fixed, to see life be breathed into it, made real once more. A land they could all stand proud before, where she could look to Oriens and declare she'd made his realm a force. Let their knowledge be their vibrancy, let their kingdom swell, in turn . . . perhaps this could even by their new, modern Atlantis, a kingdom of intellectual advancements like no one could believe.
Though, she would fear history repeating itself as well, on that one. One fall of Atlantis was enough, her heart had never forgiven the God who stole her favorite city from her. Taken it into the sea where her reach could not extend. Not this time, she wouldn't let this place fall into ruin as well. She might be just a young doe, but she held, in her soul, the reincarnation of something so much more. She would use those memories, that knowledge to aid her. Just as she felt the energy of this land, the magic of the leylines at crossed beneath her sovereign soil hum, she also wished to feel that same energy, that same life hum from her people.
Perhaps some day. Slowly she watched the others arrive, and she couldn't deny the slight smile of amusement that crossed her elegant face at the reactions to her species. She could hear the questions, the thoughtful hesitation at her being to the front, but she didn't let it get to her, how could she, she was proud of who she was, she was in her natural form (well, one of her most natural, the day the earth would falter if she ever was able to take her truest form, her previous form, when had been something so much more than a mere mortal). But this deer had been her pre-Novus form, and that was all she needed to feel comfortable.
One such mare had already dipped her head in silent greeting, of silent support, to which Cally returned with her own delicate incline, not fully dipping her head, but the acknowledgment there, and her features warming into a kind smile. It was hard to do much more when her attention was so quickly drawn away to the stag that entered. His words had stolen her breath, even as her gaze softened, warmed upon her mate, though she kept her countenance professional, "I would never be one to turn away potential members to Delumine. Speak we me after this meeting, and we can make sure you're adjustment into the Court is smooth, Coyotl." She agreed, her smile warm, and her own stance being a little taller, a little stronger with his support. It was odd, just how important the stag had become to her after all their time together, but there was no denying his presence made her feel all the stronger now.
And then she felt the shift. Her gaze turned towards where the very plants seemed to call her attention, as a man broke through the crowd with ease, and just as others dipped their heads in respect, in that same reverence, Cally did the same to the former Sovereign, not about to disrespect the position he once held, the power he still did, what that man had done for this kingdom. His greeting had her smiling, "Somnus, welcome. You honor me with your presence today." She greeted respectfully, politely. There was no need for his introduction, he was his own introduction. And while she may hold the throne today, she didn't hesitate to show respect to the ones who came before her.
His words, she listened to calmly, giving the old stallion her complete attention. She had to agree to his words, words of fairness, understanding, higher learning. It's what had originally called her to Delumine. Before her past had been returned to her, the kingdom had sung so familiarly to her. She understood now, she saw the connections to her beloved Atlantis, but it was these very characteristics that had sung to her like a tribute to home, a lighthouse guiding her. His offer however was one she couldn't have expected, she couldn't express in words the gratitude she would have for him, "I am but one doe, and I know there will be quite the learning curve to take an adventurer and make her Queen. I will gladly accept any wisdom, any insight you have to offer, for such a valuable offer should not be taken lightly, and I am not so self-certain to dismiss such a kind offer." She respectfully accepted, once more dipping her tiara to the larger beast, her gaze warm, delighted by the show of support.
"Your words, your wisdom and insight will most certainly always be treated as the treasured knowledge it should be within my Courtrooms and Halls." And then comes the first sign of discontent. Cally knew it would come, there would always be those who resist change for whatever reason, those who would not see her in the same light as another. Though, in this case, it felt so much deeper than that. She couldn't place an explanation to it. The challenge presented to her, however, could not be ignored. Cally took a soft breath, and the very energy of the land seemed to surge to her, to reassure her that she was doing right. As Cally looked towards the mare, her expression was gentle, not upset, not condemning one who would speak against her.
"I am, indeed, my own individual. And while your own issues with in Delumine have not been the best, promises might not have been kept by those who came before me, I am not the sort to aim for my own gain. I'm not the type of doe to make half-efforts or promises I have no intentions to keep. I do not ask for blind support, for my citizens to throw themselves prone beneath my hooves, or accept my words at face value. I fully intend to prove my worth with my actions, with my presence. I am not some high-class lady to hide behind citadel walls, to let others do the work for me, but my actions in coming times will be my proof to my words.
"I cannot ask you to support me where you may not see it yet, and while I may ask for respect, I will strive to earn it first. While I want to see others embrace my ideas for advancement, I won't hold a crop to one's hide to ensure they do so. I am not a tyrant, I have no tolerance to bully others into seeing my way, my path. Should my soldiers speak up, I will listen. Should my ideas be questioned, I will try to answer them. Should others watch me warily, I will strive to prove myself more. I don't want to be a lifeless doll sat upon a thrown for face value, that's not the life I would enjoy. I am a doe of action, I lead by example, not by lifeless laws that I force others to carry out."
Her gaze was kind, and she moved through the crowds, towards the mare that had spoken, the soft green static cling of her magic clinging to her pelt. Where she walked, the former nature goddess had small flowers and grasses peeking up from the soil, between cracks in the stone of the courtyard, "I may not have the answers, the proof you ask for today. It is, but; my first official day on the job - so to stay. But I would ask you take the time to let me prove by my actions that I'm not speaking to only win community favor. Let me show you my own work ethic, my own desire to put my hoof to the grind, and work hard myself to build Delumine back up. NOt just for myself, or you, or any of the other citizens, but for the legacies we leave behind." Her smile softened, "I want to work together, all of us, as a unit, a powerful symbol of what we can accomplish when we put our minds together. One book does not make a library, it's the collective whole, with all their shared knowledge that can build a place of higher learning. And just like that, Delumine is the same. It's not just one of us who can build this kingdom, it's all of us, working together, to carve our way back into the good graces of history books. To let others whisper in awe at what our Court has become.
"We have been stagnant for a while, much of Novus has it seems, but we are entering a new age, and as the other Courts begin to come to life once more, I will not let Delumine fall into the dark ages. We are a people of learning, we are an enlightened court, where knowledge is our most powerful tool. Where we stand for more than just pride, or compassion, or empathy. We are a people who can move mountains, because when we work together, when we share knowledge, share our support, help hold each other up, we are like that collection of books, we becoming something more, something bigger than just a single book on a lone shelf, we become a powerful source of inspiration, of encouragement, of learning and commitment, of power in our minds, that fuel our hearts. And it's this, this that is so over looked when one things of scholars. We are more than a single shade in a corner, hunched over a book with a dying candle."
Her gaze had travelled back over the masses, as she died down her speech, as she tied it up with a more personal touch, "Great countries are built on the knowledge of their citizens, an advancement in all the do by their shared understanding of their trade and their home. We are the very scholars of Novus . . . And I want to help remind Novus just what can be done when you hold that knowledge. I can only ask for you to all help me remold what an intellectual can accomplish, to remind the world, we don't just hide in the archives, we document the history, because we are part of that change." Her gaze returned to Meira, and she her green gaze watched her momentarily, "I won't beg for anyone to stay with in Delumine, but I do ask that rash decisions not be made before proof can be given in the coming weeks, as I learn the best ways to lead beside all of you. But, if you are so inclined to leave, I also will not trap you in a place that no longer holds your heart . . . But please, speak with me before you go - Privately, so I can learn from your experiences in Delumine, the actions against you that have swayed you so, to ensure I do not take those own actions upon others. I cannot right any wrongs that have already been acted upon you . . . But, I can apologize that the ones that came before me have caused you so much distress." She said more softly, for Meira's ears alone, before she walked back to her starting place.
This leading thing was already a lot harder than she had expected . . . Was she too long-winded for her rally to arms, was she doing any of this right? She couldn't know until she saw the lasting impact her words may have in the coming weeks. She could only hope she was doing it right. She was grateful for the show of support from the vast majority so far though, and she had to acknowledge the next speaker with a nod, speaking of the same silence Cally herself had just addressed, silently relieved she wasn't the only one who had noticed it. And then the other introduced themselves, Eirene, a medic, and Cally bowed her head in a returned greeting, "Thank you, Eirene, for both your words of support, and I look forward to working with you," Her gaze swept over the crowd, her smile warm, welcoming, bright, "with all of you, for as long as I keep this throne." And her ease right now, it was clear to see, she planned to keep it for as long as she could, and do her best to breath the life back into Delumine.
"Speech"
Thoughts
@All of Dawn
Notes: Girl went a little into a long-winded speech . . . . I feel like she'd be a horrible politician though.
kill the lights
