west winds {stones}

[Guinivere Marcel]

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Quinn Allegra Stone

294 Words

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out in the west [break]































they have their icons

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Of all the fae families she had met with, the Stones could have been the most mysterious. They were a culture built on warnings, on twisted words. They were a culture of respect for tradition. She didn’t know if it was traditional to always dress so darkly, but their ruling family looked like a murder of crows. [break][break]


She was still unsure which one was the heir. Supposedly the oldest, the boy. But the middle child looked at Guinivere like she might throw her off her throne if given the chance. Guinivere stared her down coolly. The last thing she could do now was lose her nerve. And that was the thing. Almost all of them here were really just children. [break][break]


She had asked Gemini to sit in. He looked almost proper today, and she couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not. He said he knew the Stone girl. She didn’t ask how. She wasn’t at all sure she wanted to know. [break][break]


It was nearly midday now, and the stained glass was reflecting red and purples on the wall. She had reorganized nearly the whole throne room, but she left the windows. Colors of royalty could be the colors of poison if you looked at it from another angle. It was all up to interpretation. And interpretation was all her rule was at this point. [break][break]


”Welcome,” she said, stretching out her hand. What an odd group. A murderous middle child, a timid youngest sister, an oldest boy who met her eyes almost spitefully. She turned to the parents curiously. They didn’t meet her eyes. [break][break]


She didn’t smile. She didn’t want them to feel warmth. Tolerance at best. No one here should be at ease. Comfort was dangerous. She was surrounded by enough danger already.

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[Quinn Allegra Stone]

This was nerve wracking enough. Her family was before the monarch of the high court. The stones were known for their nice words with a double meaning to it. Her mother was great at wielding weapons but she was better at psychological warfare. She should have taught a course how to make her opponents weep. Her sister, was great at manipulating but also great at torture. Their methods were 'rumored' but never confirmed. Either people just look away or they are too terrified to want to say something. Quinn stood between her brother and sister.

They were all three heirs to the throne. In the West court they didn't go by first born or gender but who was the strongest. It was more of battling and seeing who can hold their own. They didn't want anyone weak on the throne. So the more heirs, the more blood shed. Unless there were siblings like Quinn that wanted to quietly step down. Some families would allow it if there are more than one heir but her parents, weakness isn't allowed. It gets someone killed and they make the family look weak.

Her brother, sister and her bowed and curtsied before their new monarch.

"Thank you for inviting us here, Your majesty.." her sister replied to Guin. Her cold and calculated eyes looked directly at her. Quinn's eyes darted between her sister and Guin. This couldn't be good. Her brother, held her hand and squeezed. His face showed the Stone's fierceness but he was actually soft and caring. He always maintained his image.

Guinivere Marcel,

[Guinivere Marcel]

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Quinn Allegra Stone

308 Words

Music

Outfit

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out in the west [break]































they have their icons

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Guinivere had steeled herself for this. The Stones were the most mysterious fae family she would be meeting with. Mysteriousness was rarely ever good. People were secretive because they had secrets to hide. Those who were good at hiding and bigger things to cover up. And a family like this, one that kept everything quiet-- that meant that they had a lot to hide.[break][break]





Still, she found herself surprised by the intensity of the eldest girl's glare. The surprise didn't last long. She met her eyes cooly, loosening her grip on the throne. "Duke and Duchess Stone," she said, not addressing the children at all. "i certainly hope your travels were comfortable. But we have more pressing matters to discuss."


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No family had declared for her, it was true. But it was also true that she needed to know where her allies were, and more importantly, where they weren’t. The Stones liked change. It was a part of their power. But even they had to have a line somewhere. And she knew very well that there was no mortal blood in their family line.


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”Countess Stone,” she said, turning to the daughters. The youngest. She ignored the oldest altogether. Impudence she could tolerate. Disrespect would end poorly for all of them. She suspected these parents wanted their children alive. Then again, perhaps not.


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”Congratulations on your recent engagement.” She did not miss the way she kept her eyes down, the way she clung to her brother’s hand. So this was the baby, the youngest, the one her parents were not afraid to lose if it meant they could use her. Perhaps the son would be better, but Guinivere suspected this one would be the easiest to control.


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”I will admit, this isn’t just a courtesy visit,” she said. ”I’ve invited you here to offer your daughter a job.”





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[Quinn Allegra Stone]

Her mother knew that the Queen was coming to bestow something upon them. There were talks about an ambassador for one of the three Stone siblings. Everyone would assume it would go to Isaac. He was very good at being charming and yet he knew what was best. He was a good looking fae and he cared about the politics and hoping to help make change one day. Her sister didn't take it too kindly to being snubbed by the queen.

Her sister's face didn't hide it for a minute. Her eyes went wide for a moment but then settled back down to being its cold and calculating self. She plastered a smile on her face and just nodded. Nyx look like she was about to explode and Quinn help but smirk a bit. Her brother and her dropped their hands and they gave a small nod to the Queen.

"T-Thank you, your highness." she said, she couldn't believe that the queen was actually talking to her and acknowledging her. "We hope you would grace us witb your presence by attending to the wedding."

"A job, your highness?" her mother said as she was looking at the Queen with interest. She ignored the fact that Guin was talking about Quinn. "I am sure Nyx would be up for the job....or perhaps Isaac since they have the most experience."

Guinivere Marcel,

[Guinivere Marcel]

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Quinn Allegra Stone

375 Words

Music

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out in the west [break]































they have their icons

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Guinivere leaned forward, watching them, watching the wheels turn in their heads. The Stones were not easily programmable machines, it was true. No fae was. But there were only so many options. Only so many ways this could go. And she would narrow down their options, sooner or later.

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“Oh, but I am not interested in Nyx.” Guinivere said seriously, staring down the elder Duchess. ”I am interested in your youngest daughter, Duchess Quinn.


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There were a million reasons why and she would not name one of them. They could not question her. She was the high queen and a queen's highest duty was to her people. But everyone knew that a queen’s highest interests were her own. That was a simple fact. She did not have to say what she didn’t want to.


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Quinn was easier to manipulate, easier to control. They gave Quinn a fiance and they gave Guinivere leverage. They handed him to her on a silver platter. A family always angling for position would not be able to deny it. So they would accept the position and Guinivere would have a new pawn. A great game was afoot here, and only she knew the rules, for she was making them up as she went along. The winner stayed alive. The losers suffered. How did they suffer and who were players? She would decide. Who could question her? They wouldn’t dare ask.


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And if they did ask, she would lie. Whenever she suggested the idea to her advisors, they all looked floored. Like they had forgotten that she could. Like she would break some great code of honor. There was no honor among thieves, no honor among killers, and no honor among the fae. The fae preferred those who did not wear masks, it was true. But they liked any sort of surprise, and Guinivere was ever surprising.


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Power was thrilling and power was a balance, struck ever so carefully, a dance learned through imitation. Guinevere was copying a whole legacy of High Kings and Queens before her and inventing her own steps. There was no precedent for her. Wasn’t that her whole allure? What else kept them coming back to her feet but the novelty?


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Power. Power brought everyone back eventually.









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[Quinn Allegra Stone]

The high Queen was someone to be feared and awe. Quinn always wondered if she was so lonely. Yes she was always surrounded by the advisors and the court but she must feel like she had no one to trust or someone to care about. She couldn't help but steal some glances at the queen but she couldn't help but look away. She knew it was impolite. Her parents on the other hand were trying their best to charm and win the favor of the Queen. They thought she would choose Nyx because Nyx would be the best choice. either of their eldest because of how well trained they were under her parent's spell.

"M-Me?" Quinn practically squeaked. She didn't even realize that she was said it so quickly but could feel her sister's glare on her. She readjusted herself and looked at the Queen. "I mean it would be my pleasure."

"yes...of course...your highness." her mother said to the queen, she too seemed to have lost her compsure. Quinn hasn't seen her mother so baffled before.

Guinivere Marcel,

[Guinivere Marcel]

[nospaces]

[attr="class","Lost"]

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Quinn Allegra Stone

331 Words

Music

Outfit

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out in the west [break]































they have their icons

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Guinivere had to fight back a smile. It wasn’t strictly that she enjoyed causing distress. In fact, she loathed watching pain. Maybe that was how she had forgotten so many names. But she did enjoy it when her schemes worked out. She did enjoy when the pieces fell into place. She did enjoy having the upper hand. [break][break]




She hated most of the work she had done. As an assassin, and now as queen, so much of it felt pointless. Under Julius, it was abject cruelty. On the blackthorn throne, it was all empty posturing. But there were moments when her map played out as she had set it to and she dared to hope. Dared to hope that she could escape her past, that this palace might become her cathedral, that this throne might be her confessor. It was foolish. The fae had no gods. But Guinivere was no fae. She was tired of pretending at it. One could be monstrous and not be a monster. [break][break]




Couldn’t she? [break][break]




Doubt was her constant companion and fear her unwanted visitor. A crown and a throne and a name and a title did little to prevent that. She had sent away Julius and alienated Gemini. So what was left for her? It was just this, trying to make a difference in the face of six centuries of mistakes. She dared to hope anyway.
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“Very good,” she said, careful to keep her face serene, trying to picture herself as the subject of some fine painting or another. “I am pleased to hear it. Then, of course, there is your upcoming marriage. You are the only one of your siblings to be married, yes? The youngest first. What a curious tradition.” Her eyes narrowed. She knew well enough that it was no tradition, at least not one the fae had. She also knew well enough that there was a reason. Guinivere would get at it. And if she could not reach the exact reason, she would get close.











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[Quinn Allegra Stone]

Was she supposed to answer or her parents? This was very unorthodox for Quinn, not used to being the one to have to come up with the answers unless they were given. Her brother had to guide her and her parents were to tell her what to do and her sister was to enforce to what really needed to be done. So it was very hard to decide or think straight. She looked over to her parents, brother and sister. They couldn't help her and she looked back at her Queen.

"I have the most to offer your highness." she said, it was a way for her to come up with something to get out of her family's grip. Maybe she could get something out of it. Finally focus her music and be able to work on it. "I am musically incline but I am also able to connect with people. I was just a better match."

Guinivere Marcel,