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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.