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#1
Last post by GoblinFae - Today at 11:37:32 AM
Dark sadness deflated Theodore's shoulders and smothered the light in his eyes. While he had not grown as close to Ash as he was to Fletcher, the loss still deeply grieved him. "Some people just find that attractive," he commented quietly without thinking.
Fletcher blaming himself however did bring Theo's inner fire back to life. "None of that was your fault!" He exclaimed not for the first time. "I was the one that started the bar brawl AND the tantrum in the marketplace. I was the one that set it all ablaze. You just keep being left with the pieces to pick up and try and make sense of. I don't want that to be the case here. I want to work with you not against you, and not just do things myself."
Theo looked over at Fletcher, the corner of his lip caught between his teeth as he hesitated. "...have you still not found a replacement for Ashley yet?"
#2
"Never said it'd be me as bait," Fletch scowled. "If Ash were still around, he'd be bloody perfect for it, you know?" The whiskey eased the pain of the man's memory and he chuckled a little at the thought, but at the sight of Theo's seriousness, he cleared his throat and kept going. "Someone prettier and younger, anyway. Doubt she'd actually go for a wrinkled, eyeless arsehole except to try to grind me under her boot. So it's not off the table if we can find someone else. And...I don't know. I couldn't tell. I know games, but not these games. She wants leverage, that's all I can make of it. And she's willing to stir up trouble to get it. But she's young. She can't be that good at it, Theo — I refuse to believe it. She's got to slip up at some point. So maybe that's your answer: play ignorant, watch, and wait. As for how much you want to burn it all to the ground...well. You know what I'd do. But last time we tried that, it came back to bite someone we cared about, so...tread lightly, I suppose."
#3
Last post by GoblinFae - Today at 11:01:06 AM
Theo looked to him, his entire expression disbelieving what Fletcher said before sinking into sorrow. Were Theo's blinders really the best anyone had ever treated his bodyguard? Was the man just so happy to have something that he'd accept anything without realizing or acknowledging, perhaps even defending how much the nobleman kept making things harder, more complicated, and worse for him at every turn.
He felt it best to not comment further. "And you said you did not wish to be alone with her nor proceed in this manner. Therefore, we need a different plan. Do you think she actually has someone? Or was she just trying to undermine me? The other question is how badly do we wish to destroy her and her reputation. Because we could utterly destroy her but it would leave her with no future or prospects most likely."
#4
Fletcher's frown deepened. "How you've treated me?" he repeated in honest confusion. "What — better than anyone's treated me in my life? Yeah, it's awful. Truly. I'm really upset, Theo. Can't you tell?" He snorted dismissively and shook his head, opting to cross his arms and lean on the mantle rather than sit. "And I already told you how I'd do it. A honey trap seems straightforward enough in a world with my rules and not yours. Here, though...I dunno. With how everything's gone lately, I'd just as likely make things worse, and I wouldn't see it coming."
#5
Last post by GoblinFae - Today at 09:18:43 AM
He started to shake his head and opened his mouth to brush it aside and then stopped. There was a pause as he failed to immediately answer and then when he did it was spoken very calmly and softly.
"I feel guilty for how I've treated you and how I continually blunder into upsetting you. It is not your problem to fix or manage though and I don't want you to worry too much on it. I will sort myself out, I promise."
Theo sighed and motioned for Fletcher to sit if he wanted. "What would you have done if she had been common? Perhaps we can start there."
#6
"Here," Fletch muttered. He added half the wood back, scraping the hot coals into a unified bed and setting the logs up lengthwise in an orderly fashion. "Building a bloody bonfire in the damned house," he tutted to no one as he fixed what Theo had started. After it was done, he stood and turned towards the nobleman, wiping his sooty hands off on his coat. "I don't," he replied with a wince. "Not more than I've already said. You know it's not my world. If she was common, I could have it sorted in a week. But she's one of you, so...I'll help, but you've got to tell me what we're doing." He paused, frowning and looking Theo over. "Something wrong? You look a bit peaky."
#7
Last post by GoblinFae - Today at 08:07:32 AM
Theo startled as Fletcher knelt down into view and jerked the wood back he had been trying to set to flame. Sheepishly he nodded his head and signed 'yes,' as if speaking would draw more attention to his embarrassing attempts.
He moved back to sit in his chair, his face looking far more grey and drawn than when he'd been covered in aging cobwebs and dust. "Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on the matter? I'm afraid I still don't know exactly what to do. I'm afraid of making things worse or putting you at greater risk again. I am sorry by the way I left you two alone. I never considered she'd be so...slimy."
#8
"As much as it injures my pride, I have seen too much to deny that the days of Essyrn's dominance are long gone. I still believe it to be the greatest city in all of Le'raana, but fewer and fewer travelers come to marvel at its splendor. And I fear that the ravages of time will only worsen no matter what we do."
Ghaej was clearly troubled by the idea. But he couldn't see things any other way after seeing his nation wither firsthand.
#9
He jumped at the knock. He'd let his mind wander back to that night again, exploring every fold and ripple of want and anguish, and before he knew it, minutes had passed and Theo was done. Fletch shook his head at where he'd allowed himself to go. There was no good that could come of lingering there, and yet, with a little drink in him and that spark of memory in the washroom, he was a moth to flame at every thought of holding Theo. Of running his hands through Theo's hair, and holding his face to clean the wound. It just reminds you of him, that's all, he thought bitterly as he rose from the bed. It scared him that this was the trade that whiskey offered: a moment of peace for a loss of discipline. He wanted both, damn it. He needed both.
After taking a second to compose himself, Fletch passed back through the door and found Theo by the hearth. He stopped and watched for a moment, eye darting between the nobleman and the haphazard stack of wood, before finally speaking up. "You trying to burn the house down, or...?" But Theo couldn't read him, obviously, with his back turned like that. Grumbling beneath his breath, he approached the fireplace and knelt, snatching the fresh wood back out of the flames and leaning it against the hearth. "Can I show you? So you don't kill us all? And then we should, you know...figure out this business with your fiancée."
#10
Last post by Goldie - Today at 06:03:24 AM
Name: Li Mingzhu
Race: Shengu
Age: 36
Title: Lady of Beauty
Appearance:
Mingzhu is 5'4" and of a lithe, graceful build. Her dark hair is kept long and usually worn half-up with twists that are adorned with flower petals from blossoms of her own crafting that are not only unique in appearance, but also never seem to fade thanks to a mix of her own making. She also adorns her antlers with precious stones laced through gold and silver chains. Her lavender eyes are surrounded by thick, dark lashes that are painted perfectly before showing her face outside of her own private chambers. She is always impeccably dressed, soft spoken, and the epitome of grace and decorum.
Family: Small and unassuming in one of the outermost provinces, the Li family works as farmers and, while not poor farmers, they are also very clearly a working family. Mingzhu's mother passed when she was a young girl after the birth of her 3rd brother. She has six siblings – 4 sisters and 3 brothers.
Zheng Ailun (18) – Mingzhu's child, Prince, Son to His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the World. Lord of Countless Years
Zheng Daiyu (16) – Mingzhu's child, Princess, Daughter to His Imperial Majesty, Emperor of the World. Lord of Countless Years
Magic: Nature centered alchemy – especially gifted in horticulture. Her art is subtle and with the prowess of a master she can grow any plant imagined and is even able to create blossoms that are completely unique. She also has a personal recipe, that she does not share with others, that causes the blooms to remain as they are indefinitely. These skills have allowed her to create a unique style that are the envy of many both in and out of the royal inner circle. Though she would never state it out loud, she is incredibly proud of her achievements on this front and guards the secrets of her craft. Not even her children have been given the instructions.
History: When Mingzhu was born, her family and her entire village knew she was destined for greatness. Her beauty was beyond compare to the rest of the girls her age and, because of this, the entire community worked together to make sure she was well educated with the sole intent to present her to the emperor when she came of age to become one of his concubines. Instead of working in the fields, she learned the art of Alchemy and found she was especially skilled in creating draughts that caused flowers to bloom and has even created her own form of blossoms with her skills. She felt quite lonely growing up in seclusion, learning proper etiquette, and learning the more regal arts necessary to impress the Emperor, but she also understood the sacrifices her community made for her. Her parents went hungry for quite some time to afford proper clothes and the best flowerpot shoes for their daughter. When she eventually was old enough, she was sent, alone, to the capitol, to seek the Emperor's favor.
Luck was on her side, it would seem, as when she arrived she was able to submit herself as an applicant to the Lady of Beauty and not just a concubine. Between her diplomatic skills, her abilities with potions, and her appearance, she won the application and was married to the Emperor shortly after at just 17. Her immediate family was raised in status and moved closer to the Capitol where they were gifted a small estate outside of the city.