[sub]A collab feat. [@Ellion], [@agentmanatee], [@Xathi][/sub] [h1][center][color=00aeef]Lorelai[/color], Taran, [color=9966cc]Sheevi[/color] & Genoveve[/center][/h1] [hr] He knew he should have been surprised. After all, castles were known for being large. Yet it seemed like all he had been doing is walking up and down stairs, through rooms and occasionally finding useful things, like the exit. He knew that Medusa was still expecting him to spend time in the forest with either Alexina or Lorelai, but Alexnia was nowhere to be found and he had still yet to meet Lorelai. The sun was well past its peak by the time Taran wandered his way into the courtyard, where he saw a woman sleeping. At a glance, he could tell that this was Lorelai. But that left him with the struggle of how to talk with her. It was rude to wake someone resting, that much was certain, so....instead he took to still criss-cross a few feet away from Lorelai reading while he waited for her to wake up. [hr] [sub]Meanwhile...[/sub] Sheevi serendipitously paced through the castle halls, thinking and mumbling to her own morose thought processes. The entropy filled scene she had witnessed the night prior had fueled an intense chain of strange emotion and ponderous seclusion. How was it possible...to love somebody...? The "Vespa' witch she had seen hanging to Lorelai's side had intrigued her. As she neared the courtyard, approaching the fresh air and able to feel the rigorous breeze from her position, she calmed a bit and slowed her mind to a crawling passiveness, attempting to understand the feelings going through the witch's mind. They were supposed to be heartless, right? Able to maim and murder and torture and break without hesitation, and slight enjoyment, right? How could an individual so utterly devoid of empathy love another...worry for another? It perplexed her. Then she thought of the other in the room. Alexina, her name was? She was quite obviously envious of the prospering relationship the two had. She could read it. She was, of course, able to read all of their thoughts. That was her calling. But simply reading, isn't understanding. She entered the courtyard, feeling the brisk cool air against her skin and sighed a bellow of releasing comfort. And from the corner of her eye she spotted Lorelai and....the nervous boy from the other day. [color=9966cc] "This should be fun.." [/color], she mumbled to herself before beginning to make her way towards the docile pair. [hr] [sub]Genoveve's room[/sub] Yeris finally relinquished control back to Genoveve after packing the things she would require, [color=f7941d][i]"Now listen, Lorelai knows, but that does not mean you can tell her all about what I say understand? She may sometimes need to speak with me and when those times come-[/i][/color], Genoveve sighed sadly, [color=f49ac2]"I know... let you take over, I know..."[/color], Genoveve secretly wished that Lorelai had excorsised Yeris but... she knew what that would mean for her... and shuddered to think about it. She sat on her bed, breathing quietly, simply resting after her ordeal but now conscious. She finally sighed and sit up... she supposed she needed to have a conversation with Lorelai as... well her. So, she stood up, her travelling hood up and a bag under her arm, heading back to the courtyard. Taran heard footsteps from across the far side of the court yard. He glanced over, to see who it was that was coming. He recognized Sheevi almost at once. He felt his face flashes a hot red as his book slipped from his hands, falling softly to the floor. "Sh-Sheevi," he said, "I ...didn't expect to see you. Here. In the courtyard," Lorelai's eyes fluttered open at the sound of Taran's halting speech. Turning her head she saw him cross legged on the ground a few feet away from her, and Sheevi approaching with her signature mischievous grin. 'What's with this? Am I becoming popular or something?' [color=00aeef]"I wasn't expecting anyone, especially disturbing my rest."[/color] She slowly sat up in her lounge chair. [color=00aeef]"Some expedient explanations would be warranted, now."[/color] "I-I," said Taran. "I was just watching you sleep-well, no I wasn't /watching you/...I was...waiting for you to wake up. I'm sorry, Medusa told me to find you," He finished, rather helplessly. As she neared the pair, watching Lorelai peer at her through tired eyes, she dropped the grin and in place was a grimace of thoughtful uncomfortability. She neared Lorelai and sat next to her, something obviously on her mind. [color=9966cc] "Hello, Lorelai...and Taran."[/color] Lorelai rubbed the sleep from her eyes. [color=00aeef]"Watching me sleep huh? Isn't that a touch creepy? Even for a witch?"[/color] She grinned. [color=00aeef]"Medusa told you to find me huh?"[/color] She glanced at Sheevi, something was bothering the witch, but she'd have to play councilor later. Genoveve walked slowly through the halls of the castle, not wanting to talk to Lorelai... afraid of what Genoveve may end up saying to her. She wasn't certain how... stable she was at the moment. Yeris controlling her body always left Genoveve... unstable and tired. Strangely enough Yeris was remaining quiet, probably giggling at her victory over poor Genoveve again. She entered the courtyard but quickly tried to hop back into the hall, peering carefully around the corner. She could see Lorelai in her chair, but she was no longer alone. She was not sure what she should do now... approach and talk about other things? for now she simply watched as Sheevi and Taran talked to mistress Lorelai. Sheevi sat back into the ridge of the courtyard step and relaxed, allowing herself to clear her mind in the comfy and sensuous air. She let out a more than suggestive sigh, that sounded a bit more like a moan, obviously intentional with the presence of Taran. "Yeah," he said, his cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of red. It was very distracting. Try as he might to not look at Sheevi right now, she kept creeping into his mind. "Ah, she....said to, uh. Ask you to take me to help you in whatever you might need," Lorelai arched her eyebrow at Taran's offer of aid. Or rather, Medusa's. [color=00aeef]"So she's pressed you into my service for the time being?"[/color] A smile curled the corners of her mouth. [color=00aeef]"Very well. Sheevi, stop moaning and pay attention. I've got a bit of a trip planned. To castle Ruvina. You're both to accompany me."[/color] [color=00aeef]"You too Genoveve, you might as well come around, make some new friends."[/color] Her voice raised as she called the lurking witch, she'd felt Yeris' presence through the pact they'd made a few moments ago. Genoveve shuddered as her name was mentioned, before the tall girl shyly stalked towards Lorelai and and Taran. She meekly waved to the boy, [color=f49ac2]"H-hello... Taran... Mistress."[/color], she clumsily attempted to curtsy for them, but seeing as she was in a not so-dress like garb the curtsy did not come off well. She blushed standing back up straight and cleared her throat, [color=f49ac2]"Wha-what are you... talking about?"[/color] Sheevi was too caught up in her calm stupor, she didn't hear Lorelai calling her name. She was however, mind deep in thought. Now that her head was clear, it allowed her to finally ponder the matter at hand with a sense of rationality. Was the coupling between Lorelai and Vespa platonic? Was it simply a charade? Was it an act of played emotion and..love? She didn't understand. And what of Alexina? What did she think of the oddly affectionate pair? And...what did she feel about Sheevi...? NO. Sheevi stopped her mind at that thought, suddenly jerking her body forward and panting, as if awakening from a bad dream. She would not have those kind of thoughts. She refused. As she looked around at the faces of those around her, she simply stated [color=9966cc] "Hi."[/color] "Castle Ruvina?" asked Taran. "Is...that....like another coven?" Taran glanced over at Sheevi, who had seemingly just come out of a type of trance and at Genoveve, who had appeared from another corner of the court yard. He had yet to see her before, although there seemed to be an untold number of witches in the castle. He had come to accept the fact that he might never meet them all in person. "Hi Miss Genoveve, it is nice to meet you," he said, reaching out to take her hand and kissing it softly, before letting it drop. It was a bit impulsive and mixture of his oath and his raising coming into play. [color=00aeef]"Genoveve, why don't you take Taran on a little tour of the castle hm? Make sure he packs everything he needs for a trip."[/color] Lorelai turned to Sheevi, who'd evidently suffered a bit of an outburst of...something. [color=00aeef]"Sheevi, stay behind would you?"[/color] [color=9966cc] "Oh. Sure I guess..." [/color], she said, displaying slight discomfort for the first time. [color=708090]" I guess,"[/color] Said Taran, thankful he had someone to show him back to his room as he followed Genoveve out of the court yard. Once the two witch's footsteps had faded beyond earshot Lorelai turned to fix Sheevi with a concerned gaze. [color=00aeef]"What's going on with you Sheevi?"[/color] [color=9966cc] "With me...? U-uh...nothing really.."[/color], she said, doubt and lies obvious in her timid voice. Lorelai's gaze softened. [color=00aeef]"Listen Sheevi, I'm not just here for my own benefit. It's also my duty to ensure all the witches that call the castle home, and adhere to Coven Bloodrose bloom into the best witches they can become."[/color] She offered the witch a small smile. [color=00aeef]"If something's troubling you, you can share it with me ok? We'll figure it out."[/color] She winces a bit, feeling honesty and good will in her mind as she eases up a bit. She knew subconsciously that she would have to drop her plans after this conversation, at least for a while, but she needed to get this emotion out. [color=9966cc] "W-well...I was just wondering, I guess...w-what does love feel like...?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Love huh?"[/color] Lorelai though for a moment before responding. [color=00aeef]"Love has many stages. It begins like all things, selfish. A desire to have someone for yourself, or to emulate the qualities you enjoy in them. It progresses from there into a desire to stand by them, through the trials of heaven or hell, and to see them shining at the end of it all."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Love ultimately is a union of two people, body and soul. That someone else calling you home."[/color] Lorelai grinned. [color=00aeef]"But it's a little different for everyone I think. What do you feel Sheevi?"[/color] She immediately places an expression of perplexion, light red blush forming on her cheeks. [color=9966cc] "M-me?! I-Uh...don't feel anything...t-that's why I was asking you, of course!"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Are you sure?"[/color] Lorelai's grin broadened. [color=00aeef]"It seems to me that you might You needn't speak of who may have snaked their way into your heart Sheevi, but if you made yourself clear to me, I'd be able to advise you better."[/color] [color=9966cc] "N-no, I swear! I was only asking because of y-you and Vespa! It seemed to be bothering Alexi-...nn-..." [/color] She trails off at the mention of the name, a forced look of disgust forming on her face, obviously fake. [color=9966cc] "The [i]other[/i] one."[/color] Lorelai laughed a little. [color=00aeef]"Alexina then! A good woman. Me and her almost did that dance ourselves back when I was a newblood."[/color] Her grin remained bright. [color=00aeef]"Then Vespa came along, and well. You see how things are now."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Seducing the Queen of the Forest huh Sheevi? I have only one piece of advice."[/color] Lorelai leaned in. [color=00aeef]"Be direct, if you approach it from your usual manipulative angle you've no hope. Just tell her what you want, she'll respect that."[/color] She is taken avast, sputtering and shaking her head and hands in absolute denial. [color=9966cc] "Pf-wha-NO! I do NOT have ANYTHING for HER. She's mean! And she smells like trees! And flowers! And I HATE flowers! And she is super NOT PRETTY. NOT AT ALL. [/color] All lies. [color=00aeef]"Love is a reward for the brave Sheevi, not for those who hide."[/color] Lorelai stood, she had her own preparations to make. [color=00aeef]"And it will take you higher than you thought possible, make you stronger than you could ever be alone. But only if you're brave and decisive."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Make your choice Sheevi, but never forget this moment when love, and greatness knocked at your door. It may not do so again."[/color] With that she turned towards the gates to begin her work, leaving Sheevi to her own thoughts. Sheevi slumped back onto the surface behind her, sweaty and in disbelief at what the witch had just said. She couldn't even find the strength to recollect herself and fell into a tired and fluttering stupor on the ground. She was going to have to rethink her purpose in this coven, drastically. As she wisped her eyes closed and sighed a defeated but inspired breath, she proclaimed a single word. [color=9966cc] "Fuck."[/color]