The trees stand tall and stately, surveying their domain -

[sidherioghnach]

Characters: The Queen, the Treefolk, YOU.
Location: The town square.
Time: Late evening, around sunset.
Brief Summary: The Queen and the treefolk pay a visit to the town, with things in tow.
Rating: G
Format: Action or prose is fine.

Comments

[notmycreampuffs]

[She doesn’t like it. It’s not surprising, as Saki doesn’t like most things that don’t provide her an immediate advantage - and, on a bad day, most things period. But she is pretty sure that a grouping of sentient, possibly humane trees weren’t living in the village square yesterday and change is another thing she doesn’t like.

The Queen is even worse, and Saki wraps her arms around herself. It’s something she does a lot lately, the village is always so cold, but this time there’s equal amounts sullenness, vitriol, and self-preservation in the gesture.

She has to still her feet, force herself not to come closer. She doesn’t know who it is, but she doesn’t need to - she hates all the Fae without distinction.

Her words, when they come, are brittle and snappish - but with a thin thread curiosity and an even thinner one of desire tying them together.]

What do you want?

[redacted_error]

[Chell can't help but stare, both in awe and in well-hidden unease. Her feet slow to a stop, and out of the corner of her eye, she notices someone else already there. The name doesn't come quickly, but Chell has seen her face at the inn.

But her attention is mostly drawn to the trees, marveling at their appearance. Even more so to the woman sitting amongst the treetops, a face she doesn't recognize at all. But beautiful nonetheless.

The girl quickly poses a question, and so Chell simply stands nearby. Her own questions might be answered as well.]

[sidherioghnach]

[The oak looks to the Queen, who nods. It lowers its branches down with the groan of wood, and the Queen leans forwards to gently touch Saki's face. Where her fingers make contact, gentle warmth radiates, issuing a feeling of contentment. How long the contact lasts, however, is up to Saki.]

You poor, cold child...

[Her lips curve into a smile, and then the oak lifts her back up. Her eyes then flick between Chell and Saki. The trees rustle.]

We have come in thanks.

[notmycreampuffs]

[Saki endures the contact for a few seconds before swatting the Queen's hands away. Her glare has lost some of its strength, her stance settling slightly despite herself.

She crosses her arms, trying for haughtiness but mostly just coming off sullen and uncertain.]

Thanks for what?

[catsnboots]

[He is standing in the middle of the Village's square, not able to move, not able to continue his way to Bayo's bar. He is not afraid, of course, but impressed. Fascinated, even. His demonic life seems to him as old as the world but he has never felt such power before. Terrifying. Beautiful.

And the Queen ! As beautiful as the sunset and as dark as the night. She seems to be made of raw power and Sebastian can't stop to stare at her. A demon tamed by a Fae.

He takes a step forward, just one, staying out of reach and bows. He is still a butler after all.]

My Lady...

[sidherioghnach]

[The oak she rides on issues a low, keening sort of noise. The Queen silences it with a gentle stroke of her hand, and inclines her head to Sebastian.]

You may rise.

[catsnboots]

[Her voice seems to contain all the wisdom of the world but also its darkest secrets. Sebastian does as he is said and meets her eyes. It is like looking at the stars.]

It is an honour to meet you, my Lady.

[sidherioghnach]

My, what perfect manners you have!

[sunshinetrumpet]

[When the trees stop, Salt flies into the village square for closer inspection.]

Whoa!!

[He flutters about the new trees but stops once he notices the Queen. A wide smile breaks out across his tiny cheeks as he inches closer through the air.]

Ahh~! So cool! Are these trees your friends?!

[sidherioghnach]

[The Queen laughs. It's a bright and happy laugh, bubbling up from her fair throat and sounding almost like the babbling of brooks and the tweeting of birds. She holds out her hand for Salt to come closer.]

Hello, little one! Yes, the Treefolk are friends of mine. Please, speak to them as well!

[sunshinetrumpet]

Oh, cool! Okay! Thanks!

[He does just that, fluttering around the closer of them until he finds the face in the trunk and waves.]

Hello! I've never met a talking tree before.

You can talk, right?

[sidherioghnach]

[The tree lets out a low rumbling noise - as deep as the earth itself. A rich sound, warm and happy. It speaks like the rustling of leaves in the wind.]

Yes.

[heroiccia]

America stops and stares at the sight before him, a person doesn't exactly see that everyday. Or maybe they do here considering that he was, in what he perceived to be, an alien world. Putting on his best and bravest face, despite the fact that the entire scene had certainly freaked him out like it would to anyone else that wasn't used to seeing trees moving.

"Hey! What are ya guys doing!? And how are you even moving?" Now of course he had quite a few questions going on through his mind at the moment, but those first two were the dominant ones.

[sidherioghnach]

The yew tree turns to face him first. It shifts to bring its face down to his level. That motion is no bending and lowering of its body - the face simply slides down the bark of the tree until it is about the same height as American himself.

"We come to thank. We come with gifts. We come bearing the Queen of the Fae, who is one you should kneel to."

[heroiccia]

Alright that was kind of freaky, but awesome at the same time. And Alfred couldn't help but let his eyes shine a little with a child-like look. However business came first like always. "Oh! Gifts for what? I haven't been here for a long time."

And then there was something else that they said. The Queen of the Fae? He had never actually seen her, only heard about her. Of course he had only just arrived not to long ago so such a thing would be expected.

[sidherioghnach]

The Queen leapt daintly from the branches of the oak to the branches of the yew, but she did not linger there, and instead landed lightly on the ground before America.

"There was an attack," she said, in her melodious voice, "An attack from a rotten creature full of hatred. She hurt the children and siblings of these mighty nine. Those from this village gave them new life and strength, and so they are thankful."

[windblownash]

[ Cynder isn't so sure she enjoys the thought of interlopers, not after the whole Sindragosa incident. Even so, she'd staked out what she considered territory to be defended and that included the whole of the human village.

So she skirts around the village square, circling it a few times with a bit of a limp as she favors her right foreleg as she keeps one of her wings flattened to her back protectively. Finally making up her mind, she prowls over, her bladed tail whipping back and forth as she looks up into the branches. ]

[sidherioghnach]

[The Queen's hand stretches out, and touches Cynder's snout. The touch spreads a warm feeling of contentment on whoever it is used on - even a dragon. She smiles at Cynder from her perch.]

Hello, little one.

[windblownash]

[ Contentment is not an emotion she's all that accustomed to, and her eyes widen a bit at the gentle touch on her snout. A trill escapes her throat, a draconian purr, and she pushes her head up against the faery's hand after a brief pause. ]

[ And her voice isn't nearly as loud and brash as usual, muted and curious: ] Who are...?

[sidherioghnach]

[She leans down and presses a kiss to Cynder's snout, her lips curved into a smile.]

I am the Queen of the Fae.