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

[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.

[smilingarmor]

Even with the snow, Sylv had a noticeable spring in his step. He wasn't quite skipping, but one got the impression that he could start doing so at any moment. He led them past the statue of King Beast- both it and the banner it held now partially hidden by snow- and into the school lobby where the information booth was set up. The temperature inside was indeed much more comfortable than outside, the thick stone walls keeping the building well insulated.

"There now, much better," he said. "Allow me to properly welcome you to Auradon." He spread his arms to indicate their surroundings. "And more specifically, Auradon Prep; our little home away from home while we're here. There's some papers there on the table that cover a lot of basic information, and you can each feel free to take a phone too. They're very handy and even come with a fun little game!"

"And while you peruse the information, I can dash off to the kitchen and get us some hot drinks. Do you prefer coffee or tea?"

[thinking_about_it]

"Coffee," they both said at the same time, almost before he finished the question. They shared a smile between them that could have melted the snow outside.

"And when you come back," Grey asked, "you can tell us what a phone is, perhaps?" The idea of something with a game appealed. So long as the game wasn't chess.

[smilingarmor]

Sylv too at the cute moment. "Coffee it is!", he said. "And the phones are those little gadgets in the boxes there." He indicated a stack of several phones in unopened boxes also sitting on the table. "They doo come with instructions, though it may be easier just to show you when I get back."

"For now, to the kitchen I go! Back in a flash!" With that Sylv headed off to the kitchen, leaving them momentarily alone in the lobby.

[thinking_about_it]

They smiled as he left. Then they had a conversation, mentally, silently, as they waited, trying to calm each other down.

[smilingarmor]

It wasn't long before Sylv returned with three mugs of coffee, a container of non-dairy creamer, and a small bowl of sugar cubes on a tray. "Here we are!", he said, setting the tray down on the table. "Three mugs of coffee, fresh and hot. Sorry we don't have any milk, darlings, though this stuff works well enough as a substitute for things like this."

[thinking_about_it]

"This is fine, thank you," Cassidy said. Grey picked up a cup for her and handed it to her, then selected his own. They both were content to sip quietly while they waited for Sylvando to say whatever he was going to say.