two. spam. graceless; i figured out how to be faithless

[indispensible]

[Serafina told Vin that she had to do this - not just for the witches, but for everyone; not just for the people in this world, but for the people in all worlds. When Vin asked for further explanation, she received none, with Serafina's apologies. It wasn't that she wouldn't say; it was that she just didn't know.]

[Vin's love for her clan, for her people, is strong enough to overcome her distaste for being so close to so many people. She is capable of passing (most of the time) as a woman like any other, though Hal has to take care to stay close to her, not to stray. It makes her skin crawl, and his too, and they can't ever do it for more than a few hours at a time.]

[While they manage, they infiltrate. Vin is capable, when at her best, of seeming as high or low society as she likes. When she speaks to the Gyptians, she is almost honest in her bearing, even telling a few higher-ups of her goal: to gather intelligence on the General Oblation Board and its doings. Some of the very old men remember her. Some of them don't.]

[In high society, no one remembers her. All of those who were alive the last time she was here were so small that they have no memory at all of that time, or else don't believe there could be a witch among them. (She has been here before. There was a man. But he died.)]

[She flits among them like a butterfly, primped and polished and vapid. Only her eyes go sharp every once in a while: not enough to give her away entirely, but odd, absolutely.]

[At night, she can hide in the shadows. She can listen to clandestine meetings. And later, she can fly on her pine branch through the clouds that cling to her clothing like lovers' fingers. They don't want her to go, oh no. They want to love her.]

[It's good. Because she loves them. In the sky, that's the only time she truly smiles.]

Comments

[youwillgotohell]

[The sisters only left the witches less than a week ago, but even so, Morgana recognizes Vin immediately, and smiles when she does. There's not much she smiles at these days, but staying with the witches was a balm after nearly losing Drustan.

(Though they argue so much lately that sometimes, she secretly wonders if they'd both have been happier separated. She knows it's just mad enough to keep from giving the thought voice.)

It's in the street that Morgana catches the witch's sleeve; high society was her arena, but now she's afraid to step too close to that glamor, afraid that when she sees her father next nothing in the world could stop her killing him. It's always on her mind, and if not for the chameleon clinging to her shoulder and Morgause, she might have hunted him down the moment they arrived in Oxford.]

Vin, [she murmurs, falling in step with the other woman.] You remember me? [Drustan uncurls slowly, leaning over Morgana's shoulder to peer at Hal.]

[indispensible]

[Vin turns on her heel the moment she's touched, ready as always to fight. It's the one glaring gap in her camouflage: she's paranoid. But then, she tells herself, some society people are just as paranoid. They have to be.]

[She relaxes slightly when she sees Morgana. She doesn't smile, but the softening of the stiff line of her mouth is approximately equivalent. Hal, padding at her side, tilts his head up at Drustan.]

I remember you.

What are you doing here? [Why hasn't she fled, is what Vin really wants to know, run to the far ends of the earth, away from people forever. It's what Vin would want to do in her place. People are capable of such evil.]

[youwillgotohell]

[Drustan lifts one of his front legs in an awkward little wave to Hal. Morgana smiles, familiar enough to accept the softening of Vin's mouth for what it is, but it only lasts briefly.] Waiting, [she says softly, even though she means biding our time, and plotting. Morgause is better at that than she is. Morgana just wants to strangle him in his sleep. She's capable of evil, too.]

[indispensible]

Waiting, [she repeats, and her look is - not sad, but not even slightly happy, either. She's tried revenge. It doesn't do much.]

[Sighing, she tilts her head up at the sky.]

For how long?

[youwillgotohell]

[It's all Morgana can think of. It's all she can hold onto.]

Not long, I hope. [Drustan says nothing on her shoulder, but he fixes his eyes on Morgana's face. It's hard to read expressions in a chameleon, but there is something inherently disagreeing - and disappointed in him. It's been like this for months: he wants to forgive, and Morgana can't forget.]

What are you doing here?

[indispensible]

[Hal stares at Drustan - unblinking, likely unsettling. He doesn't care, and neither does Vin, whose stare is close enough as to be its twin.]

Gathering information. Something bad is happening. And I'm going to make it stop.

[youwillgotohell]

[Just a touch; Drustan shrinks down against Morgana's shoulder. She spares a glance for him, but it's all annoyance, no concern. He can be cowardly, and it drives her mad.]

Something bad has been happening, [she mutters.] How?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[Parties are horribly, hideously dull to her. The collars of her dresses always itch, and there's so many boring adults about. The worst is that they hush up whenever she gets close, which she hates, because she's not a baby, she knows all about politics, and she wants to know more about what's going on. There have been whispers about the Muscovites invading, and it all sounds exciting and terrible (but mostly exciting) to Arya.

This is the...she's lost count of what number party this is, but she's tired of playing at being a lady, she's no lady, and they wouldn't even let her bring Nymeria in from the kennel. Luckily, even Baleron has had enough of this stuffy nonsense; he weaves in and out of party goers, first a wolf, then a hyena, and occasionally a bird when it's too tight a fit. Arya doesn't have the luxury of shifting shapes, so she barrels through, dodging and spinning - and pushing when she has to.]

[indispensible]

[When Arya barrels into Vin's side, treading on the hem of her gown, the twinge of annoyance she feels (it was actually very expensive, and she thinks it looks nice) is secondary to her curiosity. Whoever's brought this child here must have been hoping to tame her. It clearly isn't working.]

[It's not the first time she's seen Arya, but it is the first time that she's attempted to make contact - in this case, by grabbing her wrist in a vise-tight grip before the girl can slip past. She doesn't pull or attempt to hurt beyond holding her tight, just pulls her arm up slightly so she can get a glimpse at Arya's face.]

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Hey--! [Arya spins when she's caught, and tugs at her arm as she peers up at the woman, a scowl ready on her face. Baleron comes charging back, a hyena again, fur bristling and a growl ready.]

Let go, I didn't do nothing to you! [Except step on her dress, Arya knows she did - but she's not about to admit to her wrong doing.]

[indispensible]

[She wonders if the poor grammar is affected; most noble children know to speak better than that. It seems more natural, anyway, and doesn't bother her.]

[She tugs Arya a little closer and looks at her more carefully.]

I'm not hurting you. Am I? So stop struggling. You're no child.

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

[It is; she gets scolded whenever the scholars catch her at it, but she much prefers the language the Dyptians and street children use. It's so much more colorful. She scowls a little harder when she's pulled closer, and tries wrenching her arm free one more time before abruptly going still.

She didn't call her a child. That's new.]

Who are you?

[indispensible]

My name is Vin.

[She sighs lightly, less because she's bored and more because she's claustrophobic. She wants to be flying.]

Who are you?

[fearcutsdeeperthanswords]

Arya. [She cocks her head to the side, and Baleron sniffs around them both, pressing a hyena nose close to her dress.] Arya Stark. Why don't you think I'm a child?

[fire_punk]

[Kevin can't help noticing this new lady. There's just something about her that draws his attention.]

Nanamo? [His voice is just a whisper, too soft for anyone else to hear.] Get as close to her as you can.

[indispensible]

[She stills slightly, as though she's heard someone behind her, and then continues through the streets, Hal's ears pricked and listening carefully.]

[She'll let the boy and his daemon get within just a few feet before she makes a move. His conduct up until that moment will determine the severity of her actions.]

[fire_punk]

[A few feet is the closest Kevin and Nanamo really get. Although she'll probably notice that they stay pretty close together. They're curious, not hostile. But they're definitely wary.]

[youmayregretthat]

[Now here's a face that Morgause had not expected to see in the city. Morgause and Morgana have not been in Oxford for long, but she had expected that they might not see any of the witches again in this lifetime. Their refuge with the witches had been good for Morgana. It had brought her sister a modicum of peace, but it was never meant to last.]

[Morgause approaches Vin casually on the street while Caderyn looked sharply for any sign of Hal.]

I had not expected to see you here of all places.

[indispensible]

[Hal is one alley over, watching the goings-on of the street as Vin gathers certain things she needs from the market. Her sleeves are wide enough that a daemon could be hiding within them, though of course one is not. When she hears Morgause's voice, she turns in the middle of judging the quality of an apple.]

[This one was always sharper. A touch more dangerous. She sighs inwardly.]

I hadn't expected to see you here, either. Maybe we should stop expecting things.

[youmayregretthat]

[Caderyn gives up looking for Hal when the other daemon is not readily in sight. He's not hidden on Vin's person, he knows without having to really investigate.]

Like it or not, this city is home to Morgana and myself. [Or not is the case with how deeply corrupted this place is, with all the suffering that happens under everyone's noses or willfully blind eye.] I don't suppose you've managed to bump into my sister yet.

[indispensible]

[She shakes her head just slightly. It's not quite a no.]

I've seen her. But she hasn't seen me yet. Have you lost her?

[Because wouldn't that be hilarious.]

[youmayregretthat]

No. I just imagine that she would like to see you. It would do her well.

[As sharp and calculating as Morgause is, Morgana is angrier and far more liable to come unhinged.]

[indispensible]

Maybe I'll say hello.

[Or maybe she won't. Morgause can't possibly be naive enough to think Vin doesn't have her own goals in this place. It's not her job to take care of Morgana, even if she wanted to.]

[youmayregretthat]

[She's certainly not. Morgause isn't going to ask too much though because frankly, she doesn't care. As long as it doesn't interfere with her and Morgana's plans, it doesn't matter. And she's fairly confident it has nothing to do with what they are up to.]

Are you planning a longer stay here or merely passing through?