It had not taken long for the Argon ‘family’ to take up residence in the prosperous quarters of the Dawn Court. Here were the rich, the petite bourgeoisie that stayed in elegant little mansions that lined the street and had done so for dozens of generations. They were different to those of the Sun Court- were not marble, but instead a dark grey brick that played into the verdant green of the Dawn region. If Solterra was golden then Delumine was rich, terrific green.
In retrospect, Jane really should have seen it coming. For the rest of her life, Jane would ponder at her own foolishness, at the lack of foresight. She had walked away from Vreis with shame bubbling inside her chest, barely even exchanging a scrap of acknowledgement as she had crept back to the festival. She had found Isaar with a fellow ambassador. She had crept to his side, silent and stern even as she felt her sin bubbling inside her chest. The tea had tasted rancid, burning her tongue as it slid down over her oesophagus. Isaar had talked calmly, gently, and then had done the worst thing imaginable.
He has asked Jane what she’d done. If she’d enjoyed herself.
Pulling together all the shreds of her decency, she had halfway-lied and said something about walking with an old friend, that she had watched the performances in the festival centre. She had not so much as thought of Vreis since that afternoon, had continued her life satisfied and proper. She was a true wife now, it was true. Jane had needed that evening of destruction.
It hadn’t taken long for Jane to feel like something was wrong. She wasn’t ill, wasn’t craving, just wrong. But Jane was used to feeling like a stranger in her world. She was used to the wind being too sharp and the water tasting too metallic, and the scent of Isaar singing the insides of her nostrils. It was essential that they have separate bedrooms.
As it were, Jane was in her quarters when she first felt the stirrings in her stomach that would be called dubbed life. While she feared illness- consumption and cancer were no strangers in her family tree- the wise woman who had come to her home had said that it was something else. Something much more simple: Jane was with foal. Oh, how could they call that simple?
It had been a long time since Jane had wanted her mother’s company, but she desired it now. Maybe not even her mother, but a mother. Someone to stroke her sides and tell her not to be afraid. But Jane had not been with her mother in years, not even when she had lived back in the city. Aloysia, Jane’s mother, had made no secret of her disapproval and disappointment in her daughter. This would not improve those matters.
So now Jane was on the hunt for the only person who had ever really treated her with care. The only one who had let Jane come back, even after her absence. So now here she was, in Delumine with her cloak pulled up high over her head. It wasn’t entirely necessary; people were aware of her ties to Novus, ties that were much stronger than those of her husband’s.
She knocked on the door of the Veil Nebula’s lodgings, and felt the clock strike some whole hour, somewhere far away. The rhythm sliced through her body in time with the sense of a prickling that spread from her stomach- from her womb- and up through her entire person. What would Veil say, when she found out that Jane had betrayed her husband? She had always thought that Jane was good- how disappointed would Veil be?
Jane imagined a molotov cocktail, resting in her womb and ready to explode. Ready to strip her life of its entrapments; the husband and the name and the mansion, all of it ripped down by something no bigger than a hoof that currently lived inside her. Something fragile that was so killable- and yet, something stronger and more undeniable than mountains and rivers.
@[Veil Nebula]
i've never felt more alone it feels so scary getting old
Visions of your pretty face send me into hyper space
Caught up in a palentary world
Veil's movements were easy, the sort of movement that came from familiarity with the space you were residing - or in the case of Veil, perhaps it was better to consider it 'traveling' - as her time was still split between Veneror Peak, Delumine, and Solterra. Aspects of all three sung to her for different reasons. Delumine was where Torielle was, and for that fact, it held a soft meaning for her. The place where she first met Tori, where they had their first dance by the flickering flames of the bonfire. Veneror Peak was where the gods where. Where she had refound her voice, her connection to the universe (Tori being there at that time made those memories all the sweeter as well). But Solterra tasted of family when she breathed in the sharp taste of spices. That little restaurant, a whole in a wall joint reminded her of the first night she was no longer alone, as Jane showed her around - and for that reason, Solterra held it's own warmth in her heart.
But today wasn't about the Gods, or Torielle. No, today; the stars where whispering, the universe was pushing, and it was a subtle hint of knowledge in the back of her mind that Jane needed her. She didn't know why, or even where she would find her planetary sister; but she knew she was needed, and that was good enough for her - so she took to the streets, weaving her way through Delumine, knowing the universe would guide her steps - it never led her astray. And so, as Jane was hunting for her, Veil was in turn heading right in her direction - or so the star had thought - until her steps had guided her to the lodgings she used when in Delumine. Curious, she made her way inside, looking around to find nothing out of place. She meandered into the area of her kitchen, silently putting on a teapot of water to warm over a fire; and noting all was as she had truly left it.
Even if the touch of Torielle was all over the place from trinkets and veils for her to try on as they continued to search for her perfect look, to the wayward strand of hair that she knew not to be her own celestial locks. She was certain that even the scent of Torielle remained in the area, though she was sure that was more wishful thinking than anything. She was about to question the universe when the knock on the door startled her. Spinning around, she looked towards the door in surprise, before her features shifted to soft understanding, a warm smile on her muzzle, as she telekinetically opened the door.
It all makes sense now, she realized; pulling the now boiling tea from the flames, and setting up a tea set; small pastries and some soothing tea, the stars had guided her to ginger, Come inside, Jane She calls with out looking to the door, not once actually feeling the need to check that the hooded figure was her sister - she just know it to be her. It wasn't until she felt out with the universe that she paused. Something was off. The energy was off, the universe was humming, and instantly her gaze shot up to the clear tiles in her roof that gave way to the sky.
Rhea glimmered in the sky, the moon in obvious position to smile upon Jane, and Veil felt her breath sink in, ignoring some of the other stars that glittered down at Jane, at her; at others Veil knew. Her focus was on Rhea, before she spun to her sister, her friend, companion, sister, Jane? I thought you stated your husband was unable to father a child? Why does Rhea shine upon you with such brilliance? Immediately she is moving closer, twirling her sister away from the door, Have you finally taken consideration to the idea of adoption? Or even surrogacy? She asks curiously, as she guides Jane to the table and the set out treats, taking note of Jane's behavior, her outward appearance, while her magic clued her into the anxiety and apprehension that seemed to weigh the air around Jane so heavily - Veil felt she may be able to taste those sour emotions, Sister, what is wrong?
Jane would not cry. She could do a lot of things, could complain and shout, but she would not cry. This was what she declared to herself as she wove through Delumine, imagining that everyone could see through her. In fact, it was not unthinkable that they would recognise her, maybe say something to Sebastian or even to Isaar, gods forbid. Or perhaps that was what she needed, pure separation.
But they knew she belonged to Novus, that she had a right to be here. It was not strange for her to seek the comfort of the Veil Nebula, not when it came to their extensive history- that beautiful history that made her feel warm every time she imagined the sunbaked streets of Solterra. She saw it before her now, light reflecting off the white stones and striking her blackbrown coat. She imagined the warmth soaking into her blood and making her feel more alive than she had ever been back home. Stupid fool had forsaken it at the first opportunity…
The worst part was that Isaar wasn’t even bad, not really. In fact, there was naught a personality trait to truly warrant the dejection that Jane felt upon looking at him. In another life they may have been friends- in fact, they brushed along the edge of being friends as it was- but she felt no romance for him. He had been designed, in truth, as a punishment for her. You will find no touch in marrying this man. And she hadn’t- sin blighted her body completely.
Who was Jane? Who was Jane, really? Was this truly the reason she had been placed upon this planet- just an accidental blip in her mother’s womb, quickly overlooked for the perfect son that later came? At the end of the day, Jane had been slotted into an available space. And now her womb had done the same.
She crept through Delumine as though she were a shadow, taking up as little space as possible until she reached the door of her sister.
As was befitting of her sister’s qualities, the door swung open. She could feel Veil’s presence soaking out into the street, the scent of tea filling her nose and sending Jane into an immediate calm. Perhaps, things would be okay. The scent of her sister pulled Jane back from the edge- tugged her back from the rugged precipice that could so easily destroy her. Or would destroy her. Jane couldn’t really tell anymore.
Jane stepped into Veil’s home, and a new scent accompanied her sister’s. It would have to be Torielle, if Jane were to guess.
Come inside, Jane.
It was still a bit of a shock to hear Veil speak so fluidly, but Jane appreciated it as she stepped into the small kitchen to see the nebula preparing tea and cakes. She had done so well, in Jane’s absence. She would be a fool not to acknowledge the very real pride that Jane felt for her sister. She will be okay without me. The thought ripped through Jane without warning, and she pushed it quickly out of her mind.
But then the Veil Nebula looked at Jane and knew everything. Of course she did, she had always been one for knowing these things.
She assumed the best in Jane. Too much. Have you finally taken consideration to the idea of adoption? Jane wished that was the case. She wished that there could have been any room of charity in Jane’s terrified entropy, too cowardly to do anything of interest to the world. No, Veil had been the only glitch of kindness in her otherwise warped personality.
Surely, there must be something wrong with her. There had to be- who else could be so corrupted?
“It is not my husband’s,” Jane said, and did not feel tears in her throat. She did not feel like crying- in fact, Jane felt very little at all. “It is… a guard’s, I believe.” She sat with her sister as though waiting for Veil’s permission to touch the teapot. Jane kept her body still, refusing to wince away from her sister’s possible reproach-
Jane didn’t think she could cope, if Veil rejected her.
But she would never force Veil to stay. Jane cleared her throat. “No one else knows.”
@[Veil Nebula]
i've never felt more alone it feels so scary getting old
visions of your pretty face send me into hyper space
caught up in a planetary world
Something was wrong. Wrong enough that it hurt her heart to see her sister struggling like this. As she turned to see her sister approach her home, the door opening, encouraging her inside, Veil was watching, was waiting. She waited quietly, her ears perked to where Jane approached, standing by the counters of the small kitchen. She finished the final steps on her tea, her platter of cakes, but her gaze is primarily on her sister. Setting the platter of snacks on the table, she approaches her sister.
Jane is speaking, of the child not to be her husbands, of it belonging to another. Veil smiles softly, sadly as she closes the distance, as she pulls her sister into her chest, Regardless of how it came to be, it is a living soul and should be treasured as such. Anyone who does not respect that, you just need to tell me and I shall be delighted to correct them on their foolishness. She instructs gently, using her body to lead her sister to the table. Sit, have some tea. She instructs gently, nuzzling Jane, and moving the pot of tea and cups closer. Sitting her sister down, she adds a small plate of snacks next, determinedly setting them down before her, Drink, and eat too. Together, we can discuss what you plan to do . . . It will be alright in the long run, of that I am certain.
