Evers crossed her arms and smirked "well for one, they can be very…how do you put this nicely…stubborn? ignorant? no…actually yeah…all of that more carefully chosen words." she laughed softly but leaned back to truly think about her research, if she was allowed to call it that.
"alright, my books don't say much on flying but they do mention different wings. some fae are more traditional when it comes to Faery lore and the magical look to wings while others are more like yours with bird like wings instead of fairytale wings as they're referred to."
“Yeah, I’m special, what can I say,” he said, smirking over at her. He raised his arms in a shrug, smugly closing his eyes and smiling.
“Shame I can’t show em off here,” he said with an over-dramatic sigh. “But who am I kidding? My wings look like nothing next to the Queen’s.”
He paused, taking his hand and preening it on his coat.
“Tsk tsk,” he clicked, shaking his head. When it came to the Queen, Kayan would rather be full human than be remotely specially related to her. And based on Evers’ language, it seemed she would feel the same way.
She shook her head with a playful smile "you poor thing." she patted his shoulder in feigned sympathy.
"So i'm assuming royalty get a special pass on the whole faery thing? More beautiful, extremely attractive, even bigger of a prat than normal and everyone loves them cuz they're blind to their horrendous ways?"she nodded with a laugh "I'm sure not all Fae royalty are like that, some are worse, some are slightly less worse…is there a reason as to why they hate us? why they think they're better besides the appearance and magical ability of some?"
Kayan narrowed his eyes, keeping them up to the sky.
“Well, I’d say it’s no different than humans,” he mumbled. “It’s ego. We all have it.”
He paused for a moment, readjusting himself.
“Simply, power. Greed. We’re no different.”
He stopped, letting out a sigh and squinting back to the ballroom, trying to see anything out of the ordinary.
“At least in the way we act. It’s just… some of us happen to be terribly egotistical and sarcastic,” he muttered, looking over to Evers with a playful smile. “Myself included.”
"really? haven't noticed." She teased with a grin.
"if we're all the same as you say then what posses the Fae to treat human kind like this? We can't be so similar yet so different at the same time." she shook her head and glanced into the room "if half this room were Fae, wold anyone notice?" she wondered aloud, twirling the Justice card in her hand now
“If you’re referring to the Queen, I think that’s just how she acts,” Kayan replied, nodding his head along to his words. His mask slid down on the bridge of his nose as he did so, the feathers bobbing there. He lifted a hand slowly, brushing the hair from his face.
“We’re not all terrible,” he said, slightly offended. But he couldn’t blame her. Some fae…. well, he didn’t even like them. He tried to be at least a gentleman, but there were others who ditched the idea altogether. Though, his friend from back at the court was an exception. Kayan often thought the boy was too nice for his own good.
Kayan shook his head. “How many other fae have you met?”
“No. I know that. But the good aren’t weighing out the terrible at the moment.” She went silent, thinking about all of those she thought were human but ended up being Fae. Than there were those who presented themselves as Fae
“Besides you? Quite a bit actually. You’d be surprised by how many upper class find fortune telling a novelty and and a thrilling experience. Most were nice, there were a few exceptions.”
Kayan nodded along to her voice, pushing himself upright and clasping his hands behind his back. He often did this when he was feeling too relaxed— a thing that caused him to get on his toes just a bit more. And lord knows that’s where he needed to be. Especially in this setting.
He looked over to Evers once she was done, cocking his head to the side.
“Do you think you’ve met anyone I would know?” he asked, genuine curiosity intertwining with his words. “Anyone from the Fey Court?”
Evers drank the rest of her water and set it on a passing tray with a nod in thanks. “I’m not sure. Some did look like those of higher nobility. I’m sure we probably know someone in common. Maybe you can describe someone?” She said, turning to him and leaning back on the safety railing, her hands fidgeting with the cards in her hand. “There was this one Fae that always stuck out to me as odd. Bright red hair and piercing green eyes, much like a fox but he was very kind. Never asked to here his own cards read. Only for a friend of his.”
“So, you’ve met Maximus,” Kayan said light-heartedly. He let out a laugh as he spoke, shaking his head. “Yes, I happen to know him. He’s a brother of sorts— not by blood, but by circumstance. We were raised in the same house as kin, but couldn’t be more different.”
Kayan looked up at the sky once more. “He’s a great man, Max. Yes, he is extremely kind. And that doesn’t surprise me about the cards. He’s always looking to help others out without taking any precautions for himself.”
Kai let out a long sigh before continuing, clasping his hands together slightly tighter.
“I haven’t seen him in a while,” he mumbled. “I wonder how he is.”
Not seeing him in a while was an understatement. Kayan hadn’t seen Maximus since the night…. no, he couldn’t think about that right now.
He shook his head, putting back on some kind of fake happy exterior.
Evers nodded, recognizing the name and connecting it back to the day she had met the young Fae "yes, him! He was very sweet. Never really understood why he had me pull someone else's cards out though. She sifted through her deck, pulling out the cards she had chosen on the day she had met Max. "he had strength, chariot, tower, fool and the two of swords. all upright." she explained, kneeling on the ground and spreading the five cards out in front of her
“And that means….?” Kayan asked expectantly. “Maybe with the meanings I could figure out who he was thinking about.”
Kayan had to resist the urge to shutter. He didn’t know who else Maximus would have cards drawn for. Unless cards could be pulled about people who were no longer… living.
Kayan and Max were very close. Almost the only two people to still pledge allegiance to the Fey Court undoubtedly. He really didn’t know who else Max would ever chose cards for besides himself. But, Kai had been wrong regarding the boy before, so who was he to say he couldn’t be wrong again.
Evers glanced around to the ballroom before nodding reluctantly. "I don't usually do readings in public like this, especially with so many people around, nor with nobility around, so this might not be so accurate." she warned, shutting her eyes and concentrating, blocking out the sound from the ballroom and focusing on the memory of the young fey who had come to her asking for a reading, not for himself but for a friend.
"the one i'm sensing the strongest pull is The Fool. Usually meaning innocent in ways of personality and in perspective. I see this a lot for children and young teenagers, it's rare in adults but not impossible. This person would be looking for an adventure, something to fulfill their need to free and happy." she opened her eyes and moved on, waving her hand along the four remaining cards. Stopping at Strength, she shut her eyes once more. "This person was strong, both in the mind and physically. They weren't over confident in their strength but they were capable of staying calm and was usually seen as a leader among their group."
She opened her eyes and repeated the same motion as before, now stopping at the Two Swords. Her eyebrows knit together and she tilted her head slightly "split paths. when they went on this initial journey they did not expect to make this choice. One of good, one of better yet much more difficult to obtain. To keep the balance one must do both the better and difficult." Evers shuddered and pulled her hand away as if in pain. "They know what they want but they're stuck." she looked up at Kayan to see if there was any reaction before continuing. "The Chariot. They're determined and strong willed. despite being under another's authority, they're determined to carve their own path. This is essential when overcoming obstacles." She moved her hand to the final card. The Towers. She pulled her hand back once again in pain but her eyes remained tightly shut. SHe placed her hand on top of the card and suppressed a yell. Once she had caught her breath, she continued "The Towers. usually referring to a battle or some drastic change. It will not be easy nor will clear as to what purpose they have to fight. The foundation of this journey rises and falls with this one event." she pulled her hand away and gathered the cards, relaxing slightly and looking up at the crowd of people, catching a few eyes but other than that, no one seemed to have noticed.
Kayan watched her carefully, his expression unchanging from its stone stature. His heart pounded harder with every explanation— every analysis of this person. He had an inkling… no, he had a very well-educated guess. Theory.
He stood uncannily still, not even a finger twitching as his eyes kept rested on Evers. The cold night was fitting for the chill that ran down his spine, and then back up, racing back and forth like a jouster.
He slowly took out a hand from beneath the cloak, brushing it aside and letting a slight bit of his wing out. A wave of relief washed over it. They both ached, being held up in the cloak for too long. But as he became more aware of the people inside, the wing tucked back in, and he draped the cloak back down.
His mind washed around with mostly negative thoughts. If this was that person…
He opened his mouth to speak, but shut it quickly as if thinking better. With a long breath, he looked back to the cards again, then locked eyes with Evers.
“Is it…,” he asked, pausing for a moment. “Is it possible to draw cards for someone who… is no longer… here?”
She tilted her head and stood from the ground slowly. "it's rare, almost never heard of but if whatever spirit or force is attached to the living person then I guess it can be possible. It would have had to been someone who was very close to your friend. A family member or close friend could possible attach to the aura of the living. They find comfort in familiarity. Some don't even realize they're dead so this helps them stabilize their spirit until they're ready to move on." She explained softly, knowing most didn't believe in or liked talking much about the dead.
She looked around the room, sensing some stronger forces that were more than human or fey. If she focused hard enough, she could see a very faint outline of some of the spirits, most of children or of men who had died in a war. they looked like rippling water, whatever that was behind the spirits could be seen through their bodies, slightly obscured by their effect.
"Whoever was attached to Max wanted me to read them. They were willing to let me read who they were. They were not afraid and they had no mal-intent."
Kayan gave a melancholic yet warm smile.
“So spirits can attach to a person? Or at least follow them around?” he asked, or at least restated for his own sanity, still standing quite still and gazing down. His eyes looked dimmer than they had before.
“And… does it matter how recently they had died? Or could you still be able to draw cards, as long as they were present?… Well… ‘present’ figuratively, anyway.”
Part of him was too worried to let himself come to terms with the person whom it was. That would open the past. And unfortunately for him, the past was terrifying. Even more so than the future, if not right up to par.
His cloak flowed behind him, nicking at his ankles and dancing with the late night breeze. His green eyes, although more glazed, still shone brightly against his black palette, the night making it even darker. The only backlight was the moon behind them, casting a white aura among them both.
She was worried that she had said too much, seeing Kayan's expression change. She looked up tot he moon, finding comfort in just gazing up at it for a moment before facing Kayan again. "It's harder with an older soul, one who has been gone from this place longer since they have so much that they desperately want to unload. That or they're more secretive which makes it harder fr them to trust those that can see them yet are not among their ranks. With younger souls, it's a bit easier but they are still cautious." She looked up at him and tilted her head. "Do you have someone in mind that it could be?" She asked softly
“Yeah… but I—,” he muttered, but stopped himself. But I don’t know why she would attach herself to Max, apparently, and not me. Yet that was a lie. He knew exactly why. And… well, he wasn’t proud of it whatsoever.
He had so many questions regardless, but none of them seemed that hard to explain. Kayan’s mind was awash with confusion, each questioning thought pouring over his soul and shaking him to his core. Yet he kept a stone stature outside, unblinking and standing terribly still.
Suddenly, he gave a smile. Even a small laugh as he propped his head in a hand.
“Yeah, yeah, I know who it is…,” he continued. “Exactly.”
He let his eyes wander to Evers’, and although he was smiling, his eyes were full of melancholy.
“It’s Joana,” he said softly. “My little sister.”
Her eyes widened slightly and she stopped herself from reaching out towards Kayan, knowing from years of experience that no one wanted pity, they wanted to be seen as strong and to move on, not to stay stuck grieving for a lost one.
"so the cards I pulled were for her." he concluded with a nod. her eyebrows creased in confusion and she couldn't help herself from asking, "why wouldn't she attach herself to her brother? Unless her and your friend were tied in a closer way than blood family…or unless something happened that tore you two apart, even in death." she glanced up at Kayan, fearing she had overstepped again or that she had unburried something that was previously meant to stay hidden, at least to her.
“Yeah… perhaps all of the above, but I don’t have time to go over it all. It’s a touchy subject, I can admit that much.”
Kayan looked back over the balcony, although his eyes didn’t seem to lock on to anything. Not on the night’s light, not on the moon, simply wandering.
Part of him hated that Evers could just magically understand his secrets. It made him feel almost… vulnerable. He certainly wasn’t used to that feeling, and was frankly quite averse to it.
Yet… there was also something there that prodded him to get the whole situation off his chest. To tell someone what happened those plenty years ago. To explain why he was out wandering the world while his home was laden with war and fire, instead of stepping up to help it.
He quickly shook the thought aside, although his heart had already sunken so deep. He hadn’t prepared for it, and in result his eyes burned and throat ached. Although, he kept his posture. Kept his expression. Kept it down in spite of it all.
She nodded "no, of course. I understand. I'm sorry if at any point I overstepped any boundaries. hat was not my intent at all." she looked away from him, could bear to see him so stoic and sheltered. Though what could she expect when it was her that was slowly prying his past from him without even having to ask. She hugged herself, feeling like she betrayed him somehow.
Before she could continue with her apology, she caught sight of a guard rushing towards her as well as Tori walking behind him, seemingly trying to reason with him.
"It has been informed by many of the patrons here that you've been performed witchcraft, madame." the guard stood in front of her, glaring around at anyone who would dare pose him.
"I have not, sir. I simply did a reading, nothing more. Please don't tell that's against the rules here now as well." Evers had to tilt her head up to look at the guard. she refused to let his stature as well as his position scare her though she knew fairly well that stubbornness would get her in trouble.
"All the same madame, If you continue with your so called 'readings' I will have to escort you out. Am i understood?"
"perfectly clear." evers responded, grimacing at her compliance.
"I would also advise yo stay with your friend here, wouldn't want your husband to get word of this little escapade." he flicked his gaze towards Kayan before slightly bowing and turning away.
Kai grumbled to himself, for a second breaking the wall he had so laboriously built up. He stepped over to Evers’ side, crossing his arms in front of his chest and watching the guard walk away.
With no regard to Tori, Kayan glanced over at Evers.
“Like I said, everyone here is a god-awful rantipole. Are they not?” he spat with loathing. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that pitiful guard.”
In all truth, Kayan would have helped. Stepped in, fought the man even. Although, it would have roused a scene. And from the looks of it, the Queen would have found out. And he would have been.. “discovered.” It was selfish, extremely, but he had tried to figure out consequences beforehand. The Queen might have been an even larger problem to Evers. With… her outlook on “magic.”
Kayan looked back to the ballroom, then back to Evers.
“Are you alright?”
She laughed softly at his comment, finding it amusing that someone so close to the court would have such hatred for it. "not everyone, though yes, some do have their heads far up their ego to ever be concerned with other save for themselves." She pulled back her friend from going after the guard, knowing she'd give him one hell of a fight. "Tori no, let him go." She prompted, looping her arm with hers and turning her towards Kayan. "Tori, this is a friend, Kayan. kayan, this is a family friend Tori."
Tori gave Kayan a once over then smirked "so this was the one you did a reading for and then he saved your life from that awful man?"
Evers nodded and looked around to make sure the guard wasn't still around, then returned her gaze back to Tori and kayan
"I owe a million, thank you for helping her out, she's a fiesty one and likes to get in trouble, as you can see."
Ever's gave a sharp glare which warranted her a giggle before she playfully shoved her friend.
She glanced up at Kayan before nodding shyly "yes, I'm fine, if not a little riled up but fine. Thank you." she offered a soft smile
Kayan gave a slight smirk, clasping his hands behind his back. His wings stayed cramped, but the pain was at least slightly nummbed. He wasn’t used to keeping them locked for so long, but he had to. Without the wings, and with a mask on, maybe the Queen wouldn’t notice. Even if she came down to join the ball. But… knowing her, she probably would notice.
Kayan flicked his gaze back to Tori, morphing his smile to where it seemed much sweeter than he felt. He kept a single gloved hand behind his back, standing upright and broadening his shoulders before bowing. If anything, he’d be a gentleman before all.
Straightening back up, he nodded to Tori, slipping the hand back behind him.
“Pleasure to meet you, miss,” he said, his tone audibly smoother than before. In league with a gentleman, he tried his best to be a charmer as well. In addition, it gave him something to keep his mind off of the whole situation. If he had to worry about meeting a new person, he could occupuy his mind with that. Instead of Maximus, his sister, the Queen, the criminal… it all. It was times like these he wished he could stop time to internally deal with things right then and there.
And thus, those thoughts would have to wait.
