audio | un: mansbane

[bravelyrunsaway]

An outside mystery for you all! The wolves here aren't natural, and where the village children leave supplies at those cabins in the woods — around there smells of wolves, children, and adults. Human adults. Ever seen any venture out that way? I haven't.

If you care more about domestic mysteries, here at the estate the fireplace and feasting hall stink of bloodshed and all the emotional reasons one might have for it.

Not related, but terrible nonetheless, Julien refused even the idea of himself and his prince joined by a third in the bedroom. Pulled a Wrath and everything, cold, snippy, jealous, downright possessive. Which can be fun under certain circumstances, but might be a warning to all of you who've only seen his apparent sweetness.

Comments

[bhaalyn]

Julien. I've yet to see the Prince, only hear of him from Julien's own lips.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Yet he must be around for Julien to be so jealous over all his time and company. Don't you think? Men don't react like he did because they're willing to share, love, and I do wonder how little sharing he can stand. Or why the wolves want so desperately to come within these walls.

[bhaalyn]

Have you noticed the wolves leave the village alone? Rabid wolves that gave the likes of us, with so many skills among us, a run for our money. Yet the village remains so untouched that children bring gifts of food and shawls to the wolves.

[bravelyrunsaway]

The wolves who smell of adult humans, not merely adult wolves.

[bhaalyn]

They do? That's not news I had heard.

[bravelyrunsaway]

In what I was sharing with the group so kindly, someone really needs to praise me for that, that's what I was saying. The children leave offerings in the cabins where the wolves go. The cabins also smell of adult humans. Yet do we see any adults head there? Do wolves need clothing? Extra supplies?

Such things I get to wondering when I spend too long around the lot of you, but easy enough to say again. These are not natural wolves. Smell all wrong. Feel all wrong. But they're not mean spirited or mean in intent. So what would you think?

Wolves don't need clothing. Humans do when it's cold like this.

[bhaalyn]

You are so very kind for your sharing. ( he can't help but smile, as the stranger reminds him of one of his companions he's come to miss dearly. )

And I apologize, but I think I must have misunderstood what you meant until now. I thought you were implying that you've noticed adults around the cabin, too. Not that there was the scent there but visiual absence of them.

I've thought the wolves were strange since we arrived.

Have you heard of lycanthropy?

[bravelyrunsaway]

Thank you! At last, I'm acknowledged for my kindness! Which while less satisfying than other acknowledgements is still appreciated.

I've heard mention of that word as related to what, a curse on people who take both human and some kind of wolf form? Not by choice?

( people do mention this, and here he is, where his shapeshifting is inherent. man is wolf, wolf is man, he's the same whichever but for his outward appearance and some strength to his senses. sounds so strange. people do curses like that? pfft. )

[bhaalyn]

Should I get to know you more, I'll remember to find more ways acknowledge all the ways in which you deserve to be. ( he can't help but tease. )

But yes. A curse that forces a man into that of a wolf. I don't know much about it, but it might explain why the wolves seem to spare easy prey and focus their efforts towards the castle.

[bravelyrunsaway]

No teasing, love, I've been edged by this group without end!

( except for one time, but the majority of the time? ... exactly as he says. )

I don't see the flow of that logic, unless it's because what caused the curse lies within this castle. Or the reason why they were cursed.

Which may bring us back around to the ever lovely, very possessive... Julien.

[bhaalyn]

Maybe a promise instead of a tease, then?

That was where my thoughts went, as well.

Someone with skill put a magic barrier on Julien's bedroom door. A weak one, but a skillful one.

[bravelyrunsaway]

I enjoy promises, but mostly the kind whispered in the moments before they're realised.

Weak when none but the prince and the cursed servants live here, and what would be purpose of something stronger, or weak because of limitations on power? I don't know magic, I don't understand it, but many in our numbers do.

By implication: Julien might be magically gifted. And he's possessive. And there are wolves that desperately want in here.

Exactly how enticing is this prince?

[bhaalyn]

Maybe you should learn a little patience, then? Couldn't hurt you.

'Weak' as in maybe it was made to be broken.

And again, you follow my thoughts. Someone in the castle has magical skill, someone cursed the castle. Potentially the wolves.

This castle is full of breadcrumbs.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Patience plays towards games, and I've never been much interested in those either. More to my benefit than anyone's detriment!

If you know such things, I'll agree with your judgment, since I've none of my own to make on that. Traps are traps, magic or otherwise. Bait people to try and break it, then visit consequences on them.

And at the same time, perhaps also it's the prince who bears his own jealousy. Or whatnot. I don't trust nobility to be much of the 'noble', though the nobles of Alem were at least straightforward.

( and delightful in bed. which is neither here nor there! )

If you're inclined, might as well ask Julien what happened in the feasting hall and what happened by the fireplace. Both are steeped in blood and anger. Whose anger, I couldn't say.

[bhaalyn]

Patience builds to something more real than just empty words.

Julien is hard to talk with. He speaks carefully, suggesting the Prince hears everything...

He did confess to me that he was here before the curse was placed.

[bravelyrunsaway]

It does, when you choose its application.

So why was he spared? Why was the prince?

[bhaalyn]

What sort of application would you prefer?

I think we both know what we're suggesting here...

[bravelyrunsaway]

That I prefer my conversations in soft beds and that Julien saw the prince through the time of his cursing. What, could we call him the forest's vengeance? And also it's kindness?

[bhaalyn]

Perhaps it's spite. I wonder if anyone here might know a way to break a curse if we know who set it? I know one way... but it's not a way I think many here would like.


As for soft beds... that could be arranged.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Does it involve murder? There's a whole number of this lot which is definitely fine with murder. Selective murder. For the, what is the phrasing, for the greater good?

Oh? Have one softer than mine?

[bhaalyn]

It very much involves murder. Most tend to balk at the idea of killing one half of a pair of lovers...

I have a bed. You're free to judge it's softness fitting enough for your standards or not.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Or marry them off, don't a number of those end in some kind of murder or another in time? It's not like we truly need to do anything. We're simply here. For now. This existed before us. Why won't it exist after?

Inviting the commentary? Where would I even find this bed, to judge its relative hardness?

[bhaalyn]

Isn't that what good people do? See a problem they can solve for others and help them?

I'm at the end of the guest quarters. The last room on the right.

[bravelyrunsaway]

It's what meddling people do. Good and bad are too dependent on where you stand. Outsiders solving problems? Not like we need to stay for the aftermath. How much help is that?

I see, I see. More of a morning, afternoon, or evening entertainer?

[bhaalyn]

That's... oddly not a take I've heard before. In fact, people usually ask me to get involved even when I have other plans. Interesting...

Is evening not better for a bed?