"I Am No Fool, Wade Calhoun," She Tells Him Coldly, But Almost Invitingly. In The End, She Desires For

"Let's merely agree that we could both learn from the other," Robin ends the matter with a huff of amusement at his denial. That the maker of humanity didn't believe himself to have something worth teaching speaks either of a great deal of humility or a shattered ego. Neither of the options were particularly pleasing, but she would rather it be the first. After all, she had decided to welcome all those demigods that descended from a member of her court upon their forests and treat them as her citizens. And yet, too much humility could be a rather dangerous thing for Prometheus if he is to remain in the courts. "Do feel free to stay for as long as you want, all descendants of the Dusk Court are welcome to live in my court. Be warned, however, only those with clairvoyance should feel welcome to venture off the marked path. Without it, you might anger the forest."

alekgray​:

-

“How many plants do you have within their walls?” Alek asked, he was still unsure what the extent of Robin’s influence was over the men and women that she had somehow bewitched despite The Eye’s affluent power. Their anti-magic and everything else that they were capable of. Just the same, Robin had an in and information, that the Lupo could take advantage of. Their borders were closed to the rest of Rome, the wolves and the fey had shut the world out in favour of preparing for the inevitable. “We’re trying to find where those officers are storing all that bullshit they were carrying.”

...

“One in the Roman outpost and two in the labyrinth,” Robin says simply, the number a point of pride and of annoyance. Too may little birds, and the Eye discovers them, too few and she does not get enough information. It’s a hard balance to strike, and one that took her a century to build. “There used to be a fourth amidst the hunter ranks but she pushed her luck and was branded a supernatural sympathizer.” Her fate had been to become one of her Changeling after that, the devotion she had seeded into her little birds making the former hunter unwilling to become unhelpful to her, and although she had always been hesitant of the practice, bolstering their protections has always been a priority. “I have an idea where that might be, but I shall let you know once I have confirmation.”

like or  © mysticcfals

who? @zahryaofspring

where? the faerie queen’s forest, spring’s gardens

Robin has rarely been one for pensive moods, not when she could be doing productive or interesting with her time. And yet, things have slowly been devolving since the moment she returned to Rome, leaving her off balance. It comes at no surprise, then, that she has taken to wander the newly deemed faerie queen’s forest. She is on the Spring’s Gardens, sitting next to a pond as some of the dandelion hedgehogs nap next to her, when she hears a familiar set of steps approach. For a moment she does not look from where she is petting one of the little dears, but then she slowly raises her head and nods at the other Chancellor.

“Good afternoon, Zahrya. I must compliment you for your garden’s, they are breathtaking.”

lainxsolus​:

“Ex-boyfriend?” Lain continued to guess, a little smirk on his lips. Not that he would judge her for falling into bed with a hunter, everyone made mistakes after all and Lain himself made plenty. The flirtatious tone of her voice caught him off guard, it was so unexpected.  Reflexively he glanced over his shoulder expecting to see someone else standing behind him, because this type of attention was never aimed at him.  Either hated or ignored, that’s how he skirted along the edge of society. “Well, I can think of plenty of things you could do to me as a thanks, but I’m not sure how professional you’re trying to keep this,” The lycan admitted with a nervous chuckle, meeting her gaze.  Lain stepped closer, gently taking her chin in his hand as he studied her face.  Up close like this it became obvious to Lain why so many mortals always fell for the fae. She was beautiful, in an otherworldly sort of way, alien to this realm. He let out a soft sigh, “You’re too pretty to be trying to hook up with lycans, you know that?  What if I give you fleas?”

...

“That would make me as petty as legends describe the fey to be,” Robin says with genuine amusement this time as she quirks her brow as if to invite the lycan to deny it. It’s a common belief, and they are not entirely wrong, for she knows herself and she knows she is petty. There is no denying it, not when she has lived long enough not to have any delusions regarding her personality. “But no, he is not an ex-boyfriend.” Ex-friend, a loved one who had betrayed her, Wade is all those things but as handsome as the lycan before her is, Robin is not one to give too much away to strangers. Not even helpful ones. Not even one with a cute little chuckle of nerves. The poor dear seems surprised, as if she would eat him up and isn’t that darling? There is no need for her to tilt her head back when he steps closer, for they are the same height, and she feels a delighted grin curl on her lips at the juxtaposition between boldness and nerves. “I am perfectly capable of separating work and pleasure, and not one to deny myself if I find someone pretty enough to catch my eye,” she tells him, smile playful and all teeth. “Now, that is my decision isn’t it?” Robin asks tilting her head in inquiry even as she keeps her eyes focused on Lain. “And if fleas were truly a concern, a bath and a cleansing spell would suffice. And there is nothing to say we cannot have fun while wet, is there?”

TATI GABRIELLE ph. Tatijana Shoan for AS IF Digital Cover (April 2023)

“Look at what we have here, a traitor amidst friends, hello Judas Iscariot,” Robin croons as she moves closer to the spot where Wade had hidden away, anger sitting on her chest as she looks coolly at Wade. She hopes he apologizes, hopes he is sorry enough to do so. Because if he is here to enjoy the fruits of his labors, she will gut him and feed her to the lycan’s herself. But if he is here to apologize? Well, she can use that for her advantage, use him as a more solid link within the Eye so she can open the way for Lupo to raze it to the ground. With that in mind, she creates a sound barrier around them, to ensure no one else can hear them.  “Do tell me, why would I go anywhere alone with you? I cannot trust you do not carry an iron blade, as I cannot trust you are here to mourn and not to survey for your next victim while enjoying the pain and destruction you have caused.”

          a gift for @thegoodfellow​,

note: we’re backdatin’ a little to the funeral stuff

          Wade had been mostly sulking in the corner, the funeral became a place to settle irreparable differences between conflicting species and the Archer was adept enough to figure violence was a banished principle. It still hadn’t brought him any comfort and for the first time, Wade allows the inquietude that rises within to consume him, slinks back upon himself, the Archer hoping he’d disappear into the ether. He’d always been a boisterous and domineering personality, rendered silent by the guilt which remains. Robin had told him to go and he had, so why was it such a cowardly affliction that plagued him now? Regardless, he recognizes the fall Chancellor, feels a pit settle in his stomach as his mouth nearly goes dry, “Robin,” Wade understands that Robin would filter towards her name as this inevitable calling, wringing his hands together, “We need to talk.”

"Well, I hope that you have found some peace in your travels. The gods know that I did as I transversed the Otherworld," Robin comments kindly as she steps back from his embrace, missing the lingering warmth already. "I realize you have had a difficult time, even aside the Court Politics," funnily enough, she does not remember the troubles, merely that they are some. "So I am here for anything you need, truly. It is my duty, and my pleasure, to ensure your safety and happiness." Her expression remains vacantly pleasant when he asks for the others, the magic from the satyr's preventing the truth from spilling forth from her lips as she does not remember the truth. "Things are quiet, what with Yavie and Farenduil having joined the troupe, but aside from that, the others are well."

Pure melancholy overcame him. Today's festivities weren't normal. Sure, nothing within Rome really was, but a part of him remained cautious. Some of his cautiousness faded while he was with Robin, however. Knowing she was save and well meant more to him than any suspicions. He'd have to investigate on a later date. "I'm so glad to hear that," he removed himself from her then, though both his hands remained on her shoulders. "I feel... fine. I do. I've been here and there for the most part," all vague answers to questions that prompted a more detailed answer. An answer he wasn't willing to give just yet, "things have been complicated, to say the least. I just had to go," the last sentence was a mere whisper, with Rhovanor choking on his own tears. His face remained somewhat stoic as he fought with his emotions. "How are the others? I hope everyone's doing well, even without me. Because.. you need to move on."

"I imagine that it must be a rather bittersweet," Robin muses lowly, eyes flickering to meet Laer's with a raised brow before they flicker back to the golden tree. There is far too much fascination on her gaze to allow herself to look away from the tree. Not at least until her inner sense alerts her it is time to attend Aurora's celebrations. She wants to burn her the image into her memories, ensure she will never forget the sight before her and the marvel that it brings, heart lightened to know that they are safer now they have been for nearly a year. "The price of knowing this love once more was high, and yet we cannot deny it's call." Not when the sense of safety it's something they have been desperate to get back after their overwhelming loss. Shaking her head, Robin finally turns to face Laer, paying rapt attention of his description of his Court. "I shall open some space on my schedule to do just so. I have always been fond of the Summer Court's appearance."

"It's like I remember it." Laer moved to stand at Robin's side as he looked up at the breadth of the great, golden tree. When standing directly in front of it the creation all but blotted out the horizon. There were so many stories about Laurelin and Telperion; immortality, ambrosia, the list went on but that's all they really were. Stories. Tamlen's fate was tethered to this tree, that was reason enough to wish to understand the truth of it, even more so was the strength he felt under its glow. "It feels like nothing in the world can touch us again, pure like..." He thought of Sune, "Love." To answer her questions, Laer managed to look away from the tree for a moment, "Well, we've moved through the oceans encompassing the island, the borders where they end and ascend into the sky, the clouds. You should come visit some time, you and your court are welcome in the canopy above anytime."

assanx​:

-

Sometimes, most of the time, Assan just wished everything was easier. It was so troublesome to have to do everything himself when all he really wanted to do was find a nice soft bed somewhere and lay down. It wasn’t easy to make Assan feel uncomfortable, and the military presence within the city wasn’t really capable of pulling it off, but he didn’t like that they were bothering Robin. If she wanted he’d help her but getting the demigod to do anything always involved some form of bribery, he only managed to make it through several hours of D&D because there were always snacks and soda there. Sweet, sweet soda. A discontented sigh brought his gaze up towards the sky, idly the demigod wondered what was waiting for them on the horizon. “Tuna.” was all he said.

...

“Consider the bright side,” Robin says with a grin as she eyes Assan. “More sessions means more free food for you.” She doesn’t mind providing the money for the goodies, not when the sessions are one of the bright spots at the moment. All work and no play makes her a dull fey, and although she is taking her duties rather more seriously than she had ever taken anything else, bar a few exceptions such as her time with the Robin Hood crew. “A good question,” she sighs out as her grin drops and she eyes Assan first and then their surroundings. “I can’t really say what is coming, but we all can guess that is something big. As such, please do try to be careful, I wouldn’t want to see you hurt.”