A Rose Arose Alongside A Purple Dusk - OTA

[thinking_about_it]

Open/locked?:Open
Who: Cassidy, Grey, and whomever they encounter
What: Arrival!
Warnings: Given their series, pretty much anything has potential, but other than violence mentions these two are pretty safe.


Cassidy groaned and pushed herself up off the ground. Her head hurt. Had she passed out in the herb garden again? Tulips, Grey was going to go hissy cat on her for that. Except... she hadn't been draining anything into the land. It had still been locked under too much snow.

It was still cold here, but this wasn't the garden at the Queen's Residence at all. It was some sort of lawn. And there was a.... Wow. she stared at the large school, building. It was almost as large as the Hall, though not as intimidating. And not as Dark.

Hearing a groan, Cassidy looked behind herself, then gasped and dropped back to her knees. "Grey!" she called, reaching out a trembling hand to touch him carefully. When he just groaned again, she took a breath and snapped some steel into her spine. And her voice. Sitting back on her heels, she spoke in a firm and even voice. "Prince Jared Blaed, attend."

That did it. Like someone having a bucket of cold water thrown on him, he was at once awake and alert. Though with less sputtering and anger. He sat up, his green eyes locking on her hazel ones. "What's wrong?" he asked, the words almost a demand.

"That's what I'd like to know," she said, leaning back on her heels now that he was sitting up. She got to her feet and offered him a hand, which he took. Once they were both standing, she reached up to take off her hat, but at a glare from him, her hand dropped and she played with the end of her red braid instead.

They were an odd looking couple, based on where they came from. He had the look of Shalador and Dena Nehele - athletic, fit, golden skin, angular features, dark hair, green eyes. She, on the other hand inherited all her looks from her mother Derva, which meant that she was gawky, too tall, with pale skin, freckles that she hated, hazel eyes, and red hair that she was coming to hate less this past year.

But at the same time they looked perfect as a couple together. But that was because of how they stood, ready to face any trouble together. They even circled with their backs to each other as they looked around the new place.

"Is it concerning or a relief that I haven't spotted Vae?" she mumbled.

His temper sharpened and he reached back to give her hand a warning squeeze. "Company," he said, seeing someone notice them...

Comments

[queen_butterfly]

But did they really, though? Her attention was somewhere, at any rate... specifically, on something she was carrying, playing with in her hands a bit, something smallish that glowed... just one of those little bottles of water. It was all the better that no one was staying in the shopping district any longer; it meant not having to hold back quite so much, in gathering energy from that area. Better that, than to pull it from the roof of the school or castle, and likely freeze over the building below her in the process, she figured. No one would care much, if the pavement gained a new sheen of ice, or frost condensed more quickly on the eaves of the storefronts. Had she gathered enough? She'd used all the bottles she could find, but perhaps she could have added a little more? No, perhaps not. It was already threatening to spill a little, a cup close to overflowing.

But once closer, come around the corner of those trees more clearly, the two newcomers would be able to tell that she was dressed nowhere near as warmly as one ought to be, for the weather. Just that thin, clingy-topped dress of hers, though the skirt had an abundance of extra fabric swishing around close to the ground, and yet more fabric fell prettily from her arms... but it was too thin to be any cloak, and indeed, was only decorative sleeves. There might have been something behind her, but if it were a cape, it certainly wasn't being used to assist with the temperature. Her hair wasn't even serving to hold heat around her neck or upper body; it was twisted up behind her head somehow, into that double-spiraled updo of hers. But she didn't look to be uncomfortable as she turned the glowing item over, walking along a path that was probably only vaguely within her view, if it was at all and not simply a route she'd memorized. Pass these trees, turn a bit to this side, keep going...?

But she didn't take that much longer to notice them, seemingly looking up to get her bearings again without stopping. Except, she did stop; she'd spotted them. Which was, apparently, a reason for her to put on a bit of a smile and raise a hand to wave to them, leaving the glowing thing in her other hand for a moment.

"Hello! I... don't believe we've met yet...?"

Absently, she moved the bottle just out of sight, to somewhere that might've been at her hip... a pocket, presumably? Except, there was no change in the shape of her dress or difference in how the skirt fell and moved around her legs as she stepped slowly forward, to indicate that it was now in any such place. It seemed to simply be gone. Of course, if either of the two newcomers were paying attention or looking for it, they'd be able to tell not only that it wasn't gone, but that it was somehow inside her, along with a good half dozen or more other such items. It was difficult to tell exactly how many she was carrying, arranged as they were. Perhaps of even more interest, though, was what they'd sense of her herself....

What even was she? It was one thing, to sense if someone had magic in them. But what was one to make of the notion that one was, themselves, magic? This was no human, if her slightly odd features didn't well enough give as much away already....

[thinking_about_it]

Cassidy had seen a lot of odd things in her four months in the Dark Court. She wondered what Jaenelle would make of this woman. But she gave a warm smile. "I don't think we have. Actually... We're not quite sure where we are...?I don't suppose you live here?" Oh, perhaps these were the Paw Islands? Or the Fireborn Islands? She'd heard so much about each, but hadn't ever been to either. But she knew most people who had considered them to be odd places by human standards.

[queen_butterfly]

"Well... I'm here for now, at least. ...It's a touch complicated." That wasn't quite a wince in her smile, but it was at least clear that it wasn't a straightforward yes or no. "I'm Mallia. Come; there's an indoors, and it's a good deal warmer than remaining out here."

She gestured more or less in the direction she'd been heading, a touch past them, a little off to one side. Walk with her?

[thinking_about_it]

"Thank you, Lady Mallia, we appreciate it. I am Cassidy, this is my husband, Grey." She linked her arm with his and they moved to follow her. "Do you know how we came to be here?"

"And how we return home?" Grey added, politely.

[queen_butterfly]

"To an extent, and not particularly, respectively. I wish I could say yes to both of those." Her smile was fading a bit again as she sighed. "I've been told that it was something to do with some kind of magic and was accidental, to the first. To the latter... I don't know." Quieter, "So far, people have seemed to quietly disappear at random, without warning. I was told they'd gone home... I think, perhaps, the same way we were all brought."

[thinking_about_it]

Grey's mouth thinned to a firm grim line.

Cassidy gave his arm a squeeze. "Do you think the Queen would be willing to see us? Perhaps we can be of some help."

[queen_butterfly]

She shrugged. "Mal is likely at the school, helping everyone gather and make things to send to the people currently on the Isle. I thought I would return to sewing with them, once I'd finished gathering sun again... I don't suppose either of you are hungry?"

The way the last part, that little question, came out, it seemed she didn't consider it to be much of a topic shift.

[thinking_about_it]

"I'm sorry," Grey said, "I think you perhaps lost us a bit there..."

[queen_butterfly]

"Well... first things first," Mallia said, putting on a smile again, "So first would be taking care of immediate needs. Hence getting the two of you indoors where it's warmer. And asking if you're hungry. I can provide, if you are. It's no trouble at all."

[thinking_about_it]

"Thank you," Cassidy said. "We could always eat, of course. And the warmth would also be appreciated. But more, answers would make the food rest easier."

[queen_butterfly]

"Right... well, ah... this place is called Auradon. Most of those here were brought here from their own worlds, like I was, and I do believe the two of you, as well...."

Almost absently, she gestured, pulling a pair of crystal bowls out from nowhere obvious, full of those big black berries she was so fond of, and offered them over as she continued, plainly thinking nothing of it. "There's another place besides this one, called the Isle, which is rather less well-stocked than here... and we've a number of things to work on. Arranging for supplies to send to them is one. Food, warm clothing.... And making those for ourselves, as well. Clearing or finding a path through the mess of things surrounding us, to get to the farms, to see what can be done there...." She looked between them, curious. "I don't suppose either of you happen to also have magic of some sort or another which would be able to assist in making things such as those more... permanent?" She indicated the bowls. Well, Cassidy had expressed a desire to help. That would certainly be one way....

[thinking_about_it]

They took the bowls and there was a brief surge of magic from Cassie.

"Cassidy?" Grey asked, softly.

She gave a small head shake, listening to Mallia, even as she started talking to Grey mentally.

Cassidy considered what was asked. "Maybe..." she said, finally. "I'm sure Jaenelle could if she was here, but figuring it out might be a little more tricky for us. But you mentioned farms that we can't get to, what about gardens?"

"Cassie," Grey growled, warningly.

She put one of the berries in his mouth, clearly waiting for Mallia to answer while Grey glowered and chewed as quickly as he could to clear his mouth so he could snarl at her some more.

[queen_butterfly]

She did her best to look as though she didn't notice that the pair were already seemingly in a disagreement about something, and nodded. "We've some garden beds, but... it is becoming winter. There's a greenhouse we're using... we haven't much in it yet, but we've been discussing how to deal properly with that as well. One of the others here, whose magic is quite different from mine, has some ideas to try, to help it along...."

A slight pause, and she looked back to them. "Oh, I... don't mean to make it sound as though we're in danger of starving here. I make certain that that isn't an issue." A small gesture to the bowls of fruit they held, trying to offer a little smile again. "I normally do a grand spread in the dining hall in the mornings, until just a bit after noon. And if anyone would like anything at any other time as well, I shouldn't be too terribly difficult to find."

[smilingarmor]

Perhaps it was reassuring that said company was making no effort to conceal his approach. In fact, he waved cheerfully at them when he realized they'd spotted him too. "Well now, two new faces at once!", Sylvando greeted them. "Quite a surprise, but the more the merrier and all that. I hope you two haven't been left standing out here in the cold for long?"

[thinking_about_it]

His psychic scent was... odd. There was a brief moment when they both looked a little unfocused, but then Cassidy smiled warmly. "Not long at all, but we are a bit confused. Could you kindly tell us where we are?"

"And how we're here and not back home?" Grey asked, voice a little sharper, a little more demanding.

[smilingarmor]

Paying the man's more demanding tone no mind- or at least seeming to-, Sylvando smiled. "This, darlings is, Auradon, specifically, the grounds of its most elite boarding school, Auradon Prep," he said. "As to why you're here, that's something of a long story, and the details are best saved for when we're somewhere a bit warmer. The short version though, is that there was a bit of a magical mishap when two spells clashed. The result was that instead of what the casters intended, the magic began bringing people here from all sorts of different worlds."

[thinking_about_it]

"Oh mother night," Cassidy breathed, concerned. "Is everyone involved alright?" she asked.

Her worry was echoed in Grey's earnest face.

[smilingarmor]

"Of the few who were around at the time, most are just fine," he said. "The same can only be said of one of the two casters, and he's made himself rather scarce. He's likely around somewhere, but he's really very good at staying hidden. The other, unfortunately, has been unconscious since the whole business happened, but she's being well looked after by her friends."

"If either of you are healers, though I'm sure they'd welcome the help. I know the odd healing spell or two, but I'm a performer, not a professional like my friend Serena, and this isn't something that's going to be solved by a simple Cock-a-doodle-doo."

[thinking_about_it]

Cassidy shook her head. "We both know some small basic healing Craft. But I'm not a healer. If we could get a message home, Shira would happily come and help. And if it needs more than she can handle, we could ask Jaenelle or Karla...." She looked worried now.

[smilingarmor]

"Getting a message- or anything else- back home is going to be rather difficult, I'm afraid," he said. "For now, we'll just have to make do. But never to fear! Sylvando, entertainer extraordinaire and official morale officer will see that you're both properly taken care of while you're here. For starters, let's get in out of the cold, eh? The school lobby is a far nicer place for an extended chat than standing out in the snow."

[thinking_about_it]

"I'm not really that bothered by the cold..." Cassidy began.

Suddenly Grey was holding a jacket. "No, he's correct, Cassie."

"I can do my own warming spells," she said, huffing a bit.

"I am a male who serves you," Grey said, sounding stubborn, "I am your first escort. And I am your husband. I have the right to fuss."

She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes.

"Are you going to curse at me?" he asked as he started putting the coat on her physically.

She scowled. "I'm thinking about it."

He grinned and she took the jacket and finished putting it on herself. "There. Satisfied, Prince?"

He seemed amused at the snippiness in her tone. He held out a scarf.

She looked ready to kill as she took it and put it around her throat.

He beamed brighter and held out a woolen hat.

She turned to Sylvando. "Not. A. word," she snapped.

Grey looked like he was fighting a laugh.

[smilingarmor]

Now this was entertainment. And he ought to know. "Wouldn't dream of it, darlings" he said. The whole thing reminded him fondly of Jade trying her level best to pretend she wasn't cold in Sniffleheim and not quite managing it.

"Entertaining conversations aside, though we really should head in. If only to have a cup of tea and to be able to sit down somewhere that won't leave us with wet backsides."

[thinking_about_it]

"I can sit without getting wet," she snapped. "But fine."

Grey was fighting a laugh.

[smilingarmor]

"Perhaps, but I'd wager chairs are still more comfortable," he said. "Now, in we go!" He gestured for them to follow and headed toward main entrance.

[thinking_about_it]

Not really, but they took up less of her reserves, so that was something. Besides, she didn't have much of an instinctive desire to argue with him as she did with some people. She did huff at her husband however as they followed.