[Mini Event] Solace from the Dark

Hester

So I will not ask you why you were creeping

In years past, normal years, Hester would spend the week of darkness cooped up at her sisters home, surrounded by family. This was not a normal year, though, the mood there too dark to even think of stewing in for a week. Hester had the luck to be able to step away from that moment, to avoid it entirely, without causing too many waves.

The Arcane Academy was a cold, imposing building, but building's should be judged by what they housed, and what the academy would house for the next week would be her peers, people she knew, people she didn't. Was she really so insulated by her family that she couldn't put a name to half of these faces, or did it have more to do with the crowd of refugees, hiding out in a place meant to keep them safe. Safer.

Her fiddle case was strapped to her back, a sheath for her swords crossing it, and a bag hung heavy at her hip. She hadn't been involved in too much of the actual planning, and felt safer being over prepared than under prepared. There was a bunch near the entrance, a knot that she swiftly manoeuvred past, unwilling to interrupt. Though her politeness paid off, her quick sidestepping putting her in the path of the new Warden, again.

Their meeting at the training grounds had only reignited the childish crush, but Hester was confident enough now to stride over, dopey smile on her face, and point to the place next to Morgan. "Are we allowed to set up wherever?" Came the innocent question, Hester already leaning to set her bag down.

In some sad way, I already know

mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice

Rasmus was loathe to have to do it. Long Night came around quickly every year, and he never felt quite prepared to leave his herd to hole up somewhere safe. He knew, he absolutely knew, that the Luxere would be fine without him. It didn't help the twinge of unease he felt as he walked away. He'd piled hay high so they could munch as much as they'd like for the next two weeks. Their antlers would ward away anything nasty. Unfortunately they couldn't keep away the incessant cold; it was beginning to creep up Rasmus's bones even now.

He knew he had to seek shelter, that he wouldn't survive if he stayed in his own little home. It did him fine in the depths of winter, just not during Long Night. Long Night held a different kind of cold. It was menacing, a death grip, pulling you under the ice. It wouldn't do his Luxere any good to be out in that; if he was dead, how would he feed them? Still, he felt a pang of guilt now as he walked into the sanctuary. That was amplified by the unease he felt, walking into the familiar place.

Being a Natural, and being Halo-born, Rasmus knew most people. Even so, he felt like a hermit, an outcast, more familiar with the tundra then the Citadel itself. It wasn't the peoples fault; in fact, Rasmus found most of Halo's population very welcoming, but he just couldn't put himself out there. It was his own fault. He had basically ostracized himself. He had a wide, fixed grin on his face as he made his way into the swarm of people, waving in a slightly awkward way. "As always, thank you all. Don't think I'd be alive if it wasn't for your continuing efforts during Long Night to keep us all safe." His tone was jokey, jovial, and directed at Morgan and Noah, since they seemed to be in charge, even if his words were sincere. He went about finding himself a fairly secluded spot.

we are all just prisoners here, of our own device

RASMUS

NOAH

I can't wait for this no more,
My eyes have come undone

They came and gave their thanks, found their corners, and started to nestle in for the long week ahead of them. Noah smiled and nodded as was appropriate, but as the people flooded in and took his attention here and there he could feel the lines of exhaustion setting in his face. Rasmus seemed to be the last person to arrive. Noah nodded to the other man. "It might be better than being locked up all alone in our homes." He finalized, before turning away.

Noah moved towards the guards that would be patrolling and gave them instructions for keeping the doors closed until they were confident. Another guard was to take a census of all those gathered and relay it later to Noah, and so he gave instructions for that as well. Feeling tired, now, after the long day, Noah moved towards the staircase to find the room that Delphine had chosen for them.

-FINISHED.

If my star will ever rise,
Let it be the only one