[seasonal event] the story i heard

RexannA but darling, in the end, you've got to be your own hero. This time it didn’t take her long to find the Luxere. Immediately upon entering the Outskirts she could spot their glowing horns in the distance. Humming to herself as she gained a bit of confidence with the bright beasts, she clutched her bag with her and approached them. There were two of them this time, happily grazing near where she’d head toward the Fields if she had planned on going that far. With her arm outstretched toward them and an apple in hand, she approached the one closest to her – humming quiet words to it as she offered it the apple. Yet for some reason, it really didn’t like her. She couldn’t quite figure it out, but then again each time she’d come across them she’d kept her distance – only throwing the apples at them. This time, however, she had decided to try and approach one within the distance that she could actually touch it. And as it turned out, they didn’t like her one bit. Gnawing on her lip slightly, she watched as they bounced across the snow a bit further from her. Yet Rexanna remained, hoping not to chase the poor creatures around the entire Outskirts just to give them an apple. because everybody's so busy trying to save themselves.

coding

She’s always been shit at gathering the Luxere; that was always Magrethe’s job. Wessex is just too… violent and smells of blood or metal, or has a presence about her that Luxere do not like. And yet, somehow, they’d always gotten over her being there because of that little golden ray of sunshine. Now it all just seems futile. But Wessex has to put in the effort because it would be a waste of a second life not to, and she can’t count on whomever to glue all the little pieces back together again for a second time. That’s just greedy. So, armed with a little bit of hay (this last attempt has her scrounging for something substantial), Wessex tracks out and spots two lone beasts walking away from a lady with her arm outstretched. She positions herself in the reindeer’s way and tosses some dry bits on the ground, hoping to lure and keep them there. But no, they take one look at Wessex and snort, taking a curving 90 degree turn to the right. And all the Ascended woman can do is chuckle, because man, rejection from fancy glowing creatures is surprisingly harsh. WESSEX come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here

Rexanna

RexannA but darling, in the end, you've got to be your own hero. It doesn’t surprise Rexanna to know that she’s not alone. In fact, she figured it might make it easier for the Luxere to be coaxed toward them. Perhaps she would be like Lily, all full of beautiful sounds that lure the beasts closer. Or like Melita, who coaxed them closer with the apple while they continued to run from her. So Rexanna waited, patiently, watching a very familiar woman approach the Luxere she had been heading toward with hay in her hands. And just when she thought the Luxere might approach, a smile beginning to form on her lips, they dip away. She huffed quietly and approached Wessex, her steps light yet still loud enough that she was certain Wessex could hear her approach. “They’re not a fan of me either.” She offered with a light shrug, tossing an apple toward them as they kept their distance. Though while Wessex seemed all sharp edges and brutality, there was something within her that could understand why the Luxere might not like her. But it was confusing all the same for the fiery woman. She extended her bag of apples, with only about four of them left, to the woman in case she wanted to throw some apples at them as well. It didn’t do any good for the both of them to try and coax them closer. It was apparent they wouldn’t. So she turned back to Wessex with a small soft smile. “You look great for a woman raised back from the dead.” She offered, a sultry purr to her voice. They’d never officially met, but Rexanna had been there for the meeting – to learn of her death and to see her walk right into the meeting, it was shocking and beautiful. because everybody's so busy trying to save themselves.

coding

“Keep ‘em,” she says, politely rejecting Rex’s offer of the apples. “They might come to you once I leave.” Or not. But it might be easier for the Outlander woman if there’s still hope. It also indicated that this conversation wasn’t likely to be a long one - mostly because Wessex isn’t much for small talk. It’s just… painful. Needless. So while she’s cringing on the inside, the blonde Ascendant offers Rexanna a half-smile. “Feels great, too. Like I could conquer the world - or maybe just this damn bubble.” Whatever questions that linger beneath the surface are pushed away, as Wessex’s mind opts to focus on the positive about it rather than the negative. There are no who’s or why’s or what for’s running around her head right now. Just a sense that this is how it should be, that there is a reason she is alive again. A reason that will reveal itself in time. “Your name?” she asks as that half-grin morphs into something a little more… wolfish. Perhaps the slip of a fang, or a brazen up-and-down gaze. Just a little suggestion… because why not? She can appreciate a sultry purr with the best of them.   WESSEX come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here

RexannA but darling, in the end, you've got to be your own hero. There was a part of her that was incredibly surprised at the politeness with which Wessex spoke – her mind recalling the woman that had crashed the meeting and had yelled at them during Ludo’s Festival. A woman of steel, fire, and blades. And yet she was being kind enough. Her head turned to the Luxere as she tossed one toward them with a quiet chuckle. “They like to run from me.” She hummed to the woman before she looked back to Wessex as she responded to her comment about how the Ascended woman looked great despite death and rebirth. She gave Rex a half smile that the woman returned with a nod. “I’m with you there.” She added, her voice honey dipped in reference to the barrier. Though Rexanna wasn’t Ascended, and there wasn’t much the girl could do aside from throw fireworks at it and hope for the best. At least it was something, and she’d certainly be there with the rest of them come the next season to try and break out of it. But she was intrigued about the beast within the Spire, only having too much anxiety to actually go and see the obsidian monument up close. “Your name?” Wessex asked her, direct and to the point, and Rexanna’s half smile switched into a full grin. “Rexanna.” She offered, making note of the woman’s fangs as she looked her up and down – a wolfish grin forming on the Ascended’s face. She also made a note of the pointed attention she had given her with a hint of suggestion. Then, she wondered if Wessex was a natural and if that was why she had been so upset during the festival – and if so, perhaps she knew of the gods within this barrier too. But she didn’t dare explain her curse to the other woman – instead, she let her sapphire gaze linger back a brief moment. “Have you always been Ascended?” She asked with a curious hum to her voice and tilt of her head. She hadn’t met too many others – there was Lucas and Archebold and as far as Rex could gather, they had always been that way. It was an interesting thought, though, wondering how Ascended were born. because everybody's so busy trying to save themselves.

coding

Wessex should laugh; politeness doesn’t equal kindness. Politeness is a useful mask, used more often than not to conceal true intentions, to lead the sheep down one path while the shapeshifting shepherd doubles back and turns into a wolf. She is fire and steel and blades, but she also knows (occasionally) when to dampen the fire, sheath her steel, and retract her blades. Occasionally. Though some  modern psychologists might wonder if Wessex has Aspergers, those who knows her well would just say she’s a blunt asshole and don’t make any excuses for her behavior.   But in this case, the Natural woman has no need to be anything other than polite. They want the same thing: to attract and keep the Luxere around. Why do anything to jeopardize that? While the Luxere wander in the opposite direction, their distaste for the two women painfully obvious, Wessex nods as an acknowledgement to Rexanna’s name and ties the hay bag closed again. No point in wasting it on this ungrateful lot - or so she tells herself, perhaps more bitter about the rejection than she ought to be. Not bitter enough to change her lifestyle, more of an ‘in the moment’ thing. But the next thing the Outlander woman says gives her pause, and she looks back at her curious face, trying to figure out if there’s anything other than an innocent question behind it. “No…” she begins slowly. “After -” but then she cuts herself off, unwilling to tell her story to a complete stranger. “ - it was an easy decision.” And with that, she turns away, indicating that that topic, at least, is over. But she’s not quite ready to go. “Have you Outlanders listened to our warnings about LongNight?” Aka, will there need to be a clean-up crew when the light returns? WESSEX come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here

Rexanna

RexannA but darling, in the end, you've got to be your own hero. It was strange, but Rexanna had actually found interest in hearing from Wessex – a woman of ruggedness that she aspired to be when she was a young child. But Rexanna was soft – not without her flame and quick wit, but she was nothing like the machine Wessex appeared to be. The woman beside her was hard and rough, a weapon it seemed as Rexanna watched her reply to her question. And where Rexanna noticed the sharpness of Wessex, she noted it was where Rexanna was different. But she nodded as Wessex spoke, mentioning it was an easy decision and she was interested with that. You could choose to be Ascended or not? It was a concept that was hard for Rexanna to grasp, but she didn’t let the curiosity affect much of her other than a nod with her head in response. But Wessex seemed to change her tone, to shift from the question to something about the Outlanders listening to the warnings, and she nodded her head. “I’m going to the Rathskeller, but I brought extra supplies just in case.” She said quietly, raising her hand and creating a sparkler within her palm. “I have this, too, for some kind of protection.” She purred to Wessex with a quiet grin. But Rexanna didn’t know how bad Longnight was, and even though she expected it to be bad, she didn’t know exactly what to expect. because everybody's so busy trying to save themselves.

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