From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
With everyone going outside, Oliver finally had the opportunity to speak with the Newlyweds. He really should've just spoken with them when he first arrived like everyone else had, but there's no changing the past now. At least he got this opportunity to begin with.
Making his way over, Oliver offered the two a smile. Once he was close enough he started speaking. "Congratulations Deimos and Amalia... you both look absolutely incredible today and I'm really, really happy for you." It wasn't the best speech seeing as Oliver wasn't super close to either of them, but he was trying his best, okay? Part of him wanted to offer them a hug or at least something but he was far from close enough to force that on the two. Neither had showed such inclination of affection towards him before really, so it was out of the question for now. "I got you something and you can open it whenever." He held out the package. If the two chose to open it up, it'd be an absolutely massive quilt, one that could cover a bed. It would be perfect for sharing and was bright with color. Oliver could only hope that the two would enjoy it.
She finds Weaver, points out the cakes she made with a playful grin, and when Weaver tries it and comments on it Kiada can’t help the bubble of laughter that slips from her throat. “It’s lavender and vanilla.” She offers a bit proudly, her posture straightening up a bit as she eyes the cakes before snagging a drink and taking a sip. “Kiada. Pleased to meet you.” She chimes, flashing her a wide grin.
But she’s distracted by Deimos’ booming voice, and she flashes her father figure a rogue grin and downs the rest of her drink – glacial eyes drifting back to the woman she’s introduced herself to. “I’d love to.” A wink granted, before boldly reaching out to grab Weaver’s arm if the woman lets her, to pull her into the back toward the garden. She spots Sam all alone, and while she doesn’t know the man very well, it’s still a party, so she beelines for the Ascended, reaching out to try and grab onto his arm.
“Dance with us?” She asks, a bright grin flashed his way and then to Weaver, waiting for the music to start before going to dance.
to you, everything tastes like blood
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
What a whirlwind of gifts and loved ones; Amalia at once feels overwhelmed, though it is a joyous feeling rather than her usual anxious miasma. Gracious, grateful, she accepts them all, heedless of stranger or family, race or creed. Each one is here for them, and that is a greater gift than she could ever have expected or repay.
And so each one gets a a greeting and laughter, swept into the Shield's bright aura. Oliver, the first to arrive, gets a warm hug from the enthusiastic bride. A tight embrace for Jigano, a squeezed hand for Weaver, a kiss on Kiada's cheek. Even Rexanna and Bastien earn grateful smiles, the girl's eyes brightening in wonder and admiration at the gifts- though she colors up immediately when the artist suggests their hidden meaning, snorting a laugh and desperately hoping to avoid meeting her husband's eyes.
Remi, too, gains an embrace, the Shield looking over his shoulder expectantly. "Did you lose your better half?" she teases, not seeing Ronin among the growing crowd. Samuel's reticence to join the throng is not surprising, though she makes a mental note to correct it later; and of course Evie comes, bearing beautifully thoughtful gifts and earning more love than Amalia believed herself capable of giving.
There are others, too, figures of family, childhood friends and acquaintances of her mother and grandmother milling among the group. Deimos' deep whisper elicits a feral grin on her lips, the idea of a challenge quite exciting to the girl. "A game or two?" she suggests boldly, before breaking away from her husband's side to collect the stragglers.
Amalia materializes behind Kiada with a bright grin for her brother, not waiting for him to reply. "We're going to play a game, Sam," the buoyant bride declares, reaching out to take his hand and drag him into the crowd. Then, louder, to any who cares to join, she adds in: "Musical chairs! Winner can take any leftover cake home!" Nodding to Kiada in full expectation of help, Amalia begins to set out chairs one less than equal to the number of players.
If you wanna play musical chairs post your character getting ready (make it short!) within the next 24 hours, please!
took the stars from our eyes and then i made a map i knew that somehow we would find our way back
With Deimos's blessing the bard unlimbered his harp and began to tune it while browsing the snacks, offering cheerful greetings to Weaver and Sam, Evie and Remi, Rex and Oliver, Kiada and the rest. No sooner did he have the strings tightened than Amalia's voice rang out, sweet and clear and calling for games in a bridal decree that had Jigano grinning.
"As the lovely bride wishes," he declared with a wink, claiming a chair for himself but setting it outside the growing circle. "I'll provide the music if you provide the chairs. Try not to be the last one standing!" A wink at his friends for his joke as he made himself comfortable and danced his fingers lightly over the strings in an overture to entertain while the setup was underway.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
"It was ours when we were girls," she explains with a soft, nostalgic expression. "It got us through many years. I improved upon it a little, but I think it would serve you both well now." Amalia clearly is aware of what the gift means, likely recognizing it herself, and Evie reaches to squeeze the Shield's hand if it is free and the woman obliging. "And I don't need it in Halo to keep me warm," she teases as a parting bit of humor, aware that the two are likely overwhelmed with the sincerity and love outpouring from every guest. Neither like to be in the spotlight, and Evie won't keep them long.
Dancing isn't quite her thing, but she greets Jigano with the same warmth as he passes by to set up the music for the event. Instead she remains by the door, amused and entertained as everyone flocks to the waiting chairs, awaiting the antics that are sure to come.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
The games set and challenges instigated, provoked, and goaded, he’d started to make his way over to chairs; only to be stopped momentarily by Oliver, deciding now to come forward. He did grant the youth a smile at his speech, circumstances as they normally were, he might’ve hid from such compliments, nodding his head and bestowing acknowledgments. “Thank you,” only to be further stunned when they were handed the furtive package. “We will open it later,” with a smirk, a grin, before placing it amongst the others. “Come join in,” he administered to Oliver, before hastening off to his prior intentions.
Of course, on the way by, if he was distracted by a piece of cake and drink, that was fine too (might’ve intentionally reached over Kiada and Weaver, just to be irritating about height differences, grabbing hold of a portion of lavender and vanilla). He followed Amalia’s example, attempting to snag at stragglers and those tending more to the shadows (understandable, he would’ve done the same), while moving chairs out to the garden. Thereafter, he stood by one of the chairs, a designated call to arms (Deimos would like to keep the leftover cake), waiting for other would-be adversaries.
The hug from Amalia was honestly amazing and made any sort of tension leave him. It brought a smile to his face and allowed Oliver to feel a rush of happiness. To others it may seem strange, but to know that someone so close to Safrin actually maybe viewed him as a friend? It’s great.
Same thing with Deimos. His words were kind and deeply appreciated. Soon, Deimos ushered him outside towards a game that he actually had no idea what it was. Looking at the set up, he tilted his head. Okay... a bunch of chairs. And music. How was this a game exactly?
Whatever it was, Oliver chose to just follow what the crowd did. He meandered his way over to where the other guests were and joined them, waiting for this odd game to begin.
Amalia seems to suddenly appear behind the Harpy, and she turns to look back at the Shield with the mention of playing a game, glancing toward Sam with a wide grin of seeing if the Ascended would join them, turning toward Weaver with a playful wink of an apology – never one to miss out on games at the very least – and finds Deimos to stick her tongue out at for the earlier shenanigans.
But she slips toward the chairs themselves, claiming one for her own that’s distinctly behind Deimos – prepared to shove him off if he tries to sit atop her in the form of seeking the leftover cake. As if he already didn’t get enough, married to the baker. As if she wouldn’t make more of it just for him. The cake is hers and she flashes him a wicked grin, looking to the others that join the game with just as much of a playful challenging look as she did him.
to you, everything tastes like blood
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
I pray to blades of grass
To find forgiveness in the weeds
Sam jumped as Amalia suddenly appeared behind him to announce that it was time for a 'game', one word that shot social fear into him like nothing else. Still, it was a special occasion, so he tried to give her a smile, as awkward as it was. Everyone ran about in a hubbub of getting ready and he watched with the thought (a common one) that he wished he could be better at this sort of thing.
Still, at least it was clear what to do. Sam walked to a chair currently empty (and ideally, not next to anyone else) and stood by it, patiently waiting for the game to start.
05-09-2020, 05:18 PM (This post was last modified: 05-09-2020, 05:18 PM by Weaver.)
i know this is war
”Not flavors we have in Halo,” she says, though of course, there were a lot of flavors they didn’t have in Halo. Deimos sneaks in, stealing cake from over their heads, and she gives him a playful but wicked grin. This is war now. Still, soon they are heading to the garden, to dancing which turns into musical chairs with the promise of cake. Oh, well then. It really is war.
She gives Kiada a shrug in return, coming to stand in the group. She’ll take the hardest start, the one without a chair also I am epically late posting so. After all, that’s the point. One less chair than there are people, and she doesn’t care if she doesn’t start with a chair. After all, the point is only to end with it. She flashes Deimos a competitive grin, another Kiada. She’ll fight for cake.
--weaver
but the rest of us are trying to pretend it’s a party
05-10-2020, 02:20 AM (This post was last modified: 05-10-2020, 02:22 AM by Jigano.)
When all had assembled who were going to participate, Jigano grinned wickedly and reached into the circle to pull out a second chair, setting it beside his own for Isuma to flutter down to perch on. "Let's add a bit of challenge to it, shall we?" he teased lightly, looking at Kiada and Deimos in particular. "First two out get dibs on the second round of cake!"
With that he settled down and began to play, fingers dancing over the strings in merry measure, light and playful to get feet tapping and legs moving, urging the dancers round and round. Not wanting to play favorites, he closed his eyes so he couldn't see who was and wasn't near a chair.
After a few bars - enough, he thought, for the six participants to circle round a little less than twice, give or take - he broke off his strumming to lay his hand flat over the strings, silencing the harp as he opened his eyes to see who had failed to find a chair in time.
Once another chair was removed, he braced his fingers over the strings to begin the second round!
By random list generator, Oliver and Samuel are out of the game! Round 2 will begin in 48 hours.
On more than one occasion he’d accused himself of being a greedy, avaricious mercenary, a person with the ability to take and take and take with little to no remorse. Kiada’s challenging gaze and glare was all it took to instigate and agitate further, the curl of his smile rendered into a devilish decree, for her, or for anyone else intending to snag the prize away. The Sword always fought, over monumental pursuits, seditious splendors, or completely trivial stokings; where cake and leftovers fell would be anyone’s guess.
Jigano’s insinuation earned an arch of his brow, but they were roaming, maneuvering, motioning around the chairs in time to the music before he could launch some form of protest. On a portion of the tunes, he sought Amalia’s eyes from across the garden, the urgency, the frequency, in the tones reminded him of Fiat Lux ridiculousness, and then he shifted his attention back to the tasks at hand.
Then there was silence, and he planted himself immediately into a chair, arms crossed over his chest, rooting his form into its placement, certain not to be shifted or placed out.
His gaze went to Oliver and Samuel, a nod of salute for fallen brethren; the feral grin still there, still rampant; standing only when they were ready for the next round.
What a shame it was. The game was so pecuilar and though Oliver tried his best to follow along, when the music halted he... kind of had no idea what to really do. By the time he realized that he was supposed to grab a chair, already all seemed to be taken. With a light shrug, he offered Samuel a grin. "More cake for us." And with that, he made his way over to where the cake was, grabbing himself a slice seeing as he had neglected getting one earlier.
So there he was, rather content with simply standing off to the side and watching the game. The cake was spectacular and the atmosphere was fantastic and beautiful, really. Deimos and Amalia truly did deserve their occasion to be such and it made Oliver happy to see them both enjoying themselves as even Deimos had joined the festivities. Maybe Samuel would even come over and join him now that they seemed to be out.
Jigano takes away a second chair, making it a bit harder. Not that she minds a challenge. And soon the bard is playing, the players beginning to move round the chairs. Her eyes are constantly gauging just how far she was from a chair, who she might have to shove out of the way to get herself into one. Though if she gets out now, she can just go eat all the cake so there won’t be any leftover anyway. Really, it was a winning situation all around.
When the music stops, she is luckily near a chair. With quick reflexes, she sits herself down into the chair, hands going to hold the edges of it just in case someone tries to fight dirty. Though that doesn’t happen, and the first two out seem like the probably least competitive of the bunch. Well, that should make the next round all the more interesting.
As the music begins again, she keeps playing.
WEAVER
but the rest of us are trying to pretend it’s a party
