where do we go from here?

JUNIPER

you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do

Waiting for Alina to arrive, Juniper paced the Observatory's platform. How did one address a queen? She'd never had to ask that question before, and that was only the least of her worries now. How did one ask a queen if she'd sanctioned slaughter, and tell her it was wrong? How could Juniper convince Alina to try a diplomatic solution to the Ascended's aggression instead of killing them all?

A sick feeling in Juniper's stomach insisted that if she even tried, her loyalty would be questioned again, as it had been all her life -- that she, of all the Fae, could least afford to speak up on the behalf of outsiders. But that was her job, wasn't it? Nephele had asked her to help the Fae open up to others as well as convincing others to help the Fae. There had to be given and take there; the Fae had to bend -- or they would break.

Juniper hoped Alina had gotten her note, and would actually show up. She didn't know how much Nephele had told Alina about Juniper, about the role Nephele had extended to her ... Of course, part of her actually hoped the opposite -- if Alina didn't show up, at least Juniper wouldn't have to have such a difficult conversation with her.

if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.

table by Skylark