listening to the birds

Lena

What had started as initial fear and trepidation, had slowly begun to morph into restlessness, and then sedition. A brand of her own, certainly, for Lena was never much of a firestarter, and wouldn’t be on the front lines of a revolution. But with unanswered letters, broadcasts dictated, failures within the Feverlands, and then seemingly nothing in the wake thereafter, she figured something had to be done.

Precisely what and how was the sticking point.

It was all risky, and she knew this, but the Caretaker wasn’t going to stay within her homelands without some measure of a fight. With notes slipped along the plaza and towards those she knew, she waited the moments out by committing to normal routines. In and amongst the Celestine, feeding, watering, caring, and tending to the animals, humming along as if naught else could be exposed. Then, a little prior to the designated hour, she returned to the portions of the gardens where the groves and vines were the thickest, with neat little hedges to obscure any party.

With Mittens on guard (hovering along the brush and herbs with the ugliest scowl on its face), she set up a welcoming table of tea, coffee, and snacks, some with cheeseboards, some with cakes, and then sat down, helping herself to a few cuts before the others arrived.

little more like coming home

Zavien

There is some good in this world—

He crept silently through the plants towards the rendezvous location. His anxiety about sneaking around was at an all-time high, but he pushed it away as he focused on the future of Stormbreak. It seemed exaggerative of him to think of such things, however, the situation at hand begged to differ. If Stormbreak fell any farther into the Void infection, there wouldn't be much to save. With this in mind, he steeled his nerves and wove through the greenery.

It seemed he wasn't the first to arrive as he noticed the table of refreshments. Lena sat there, patiently waiting and he smiled in greeting. Despite the circumstances, it was a pleasure to see a friendly face. "Hey. Did you set all this up? You really shouldn't have." Although he felt bad that she'd taken the time to organize the arrangements, he couldn't say he was upset. After all, the coffee smelled delicious and the cheese platter was calling his name. He gave a large grin and took a seat. "I hope you haven't been waiting long." Not wanting to be rude, he waited for her to offer him the food. Instead, he looked around, expecting to see Koa any moment now.

— and it's worth fighting for.

Hear those bells ring deep in the soul
Chiming away for a moment

A secret meeting in the thickets of the Celestine, complete with tea and cakes? Anyone else having flashbacks to a certain bakery basement?

Just me?

It's Koa's first time home since The Great Yeet, and to say that he is nervous would be a gross understatement. From the moment he stepped foot on the Skyship anxiety has gnawed his belly and bones, burning like sulfur in the pit of his stomach and leaving him sweaty and pale. He'd even gone so far as to forbid Pip from coming along, determined that if the worst should occur she, at least, should be safe.

Thankfully Deepfrost means he doesn't look too out of place, even with his disguise. He'd agonized over what to wear, eventually settling on Winter Incognito: black pants, black coat, black beanie, and black mask that he only pulls down as he reaches the meeting place, and then only after a surreptitious look around.

Satisfied that there's no interloper waiting to expel him into the sun, Koa at last lets his shoulders loosen an infantesimal amount. "Lena. Zavien," the Dragoon greets with a soldier's clipped efficiency. He doesn't sit but looks around, a furrow forming between his brows. "Is anyone else coming?" Anju, isn't said out loud, but wouldn't be hard for Lena to guess who the young man means.

Koa Carpenter

Feel your breath course frankly below
And see life as a worthy opponent

Lena

Mittens, ever the watchful guard, gave a low hiss as Zavien and Koa both came along, and all the anxiety seemed mightily compelled into her figure yet again. She ignored it by grabbing plates for both of them, extending her hand outward and presuming they could take anything they wished – starting first by snagging at a small platter of cheesecakes and hoping for the best. Nodding at Zavien initially, because she didn’t quite trust herself to speak at first, she gave a small smile. “It’s fine. And yes, but someone had to.” And it would’ve been far too obvious a ploy if she were to embark anywhere near the Dragoons’ compound, considering her lack of taste for any bloodshed.

She grinned again at Koa’s entrance, and while she had a thousand inquiries for his latest ventures, kept them all to herself at present. “No,” and she shook her head. “Invited, but declined – though there is a reason for that.” He could presume all he wanted about Anju; and there were scores of explanations to be had between all of them. “Feel free to grab something to eat. I’m not quite sure where to start.” Not a frequent host of seditious parties…though perhaps this could be as much as information gathering and naught else. “Nor am I sure how much either of you know about things…” Sohalia’s disappearance, Dahlia’s rise to power…the multitudes in between. Her whispers remained low, quiet, hidden behind sips of tea and flakes of cake. “I find Sohalia’s sudden abandonment of her post very strange, and I refused to stay on Dahlia’s council.”

little more like coming home