Divided We Stand (A Packs Roleplay, OPEN and ACCEPTING)

[The Royal Mirage]

Taking the silence as a cue to change subject, Ruby leaned back further in an odd lilting gesture, her weight seated fully on her haunches now as the desert fae began to preen. It was uncommon to see wolves of any type, much less the usually tangled warrioress, doing any thorough cleaning in such a way, but for Ruby it was an involuntary act of anticipation as she rubbed at her angular muzzle with both paws. She appeared almost like a cat or a rabbit in the motions, soon rubbing behind her ears as well, as her gaze shifted around the clearing. Mud, rain, dirt, it was all good, and she couldn't help her excited little gesture as she thought of it. "I want to expand my den," the bold fae blurted out, sharpened claws running through the unusually clean tresses along her chest. "Or any den - do you think we'll be needing to dig new ones anytime soon?"

---

((The shores have moved on to the next day, at the same time as the other packs - it is late afternoon/early evening))

Lavender dusted brows quirked upwards in an oddly innocent gesture - if brows could ever be considered innocent - as tiny lavender paws handled the delicate craft. Magenta orbs brightened with delight, tiny diamonds flashing with surprised laughter as Opal carefully turned the clear glass figurine around to see every nook and cranny, trying to take in all of her first successful glass project. It was one of the birds that flew over the pack before the winter, travelling south to warmer weather presumably, though clear and bright it was obvious to tell. She had done as Finch had explained, though she used a wooden sculpture she had made years ago to make a proper mold for glass, and had then filled it with the molten sands she had collected before. As she gazed down at the crystalline goose, a great pride welled up in her chest, tears only adding a third sparkle to her wide orbs. Leaving her work room, the creamy fae delicately set the sculpture onto her counter, for all her customers and friends to see, just as the tiny bell at her door rung with the promise of a new wolf.

A silvery brute pushed through the sandwood and glass door with a grouchy carelessness, grimacing as a too-sweet bell tinkled in his ears. Delano peered into the shop with obvious disdain, eyes catching on all the shimmery, frivolous objects before finding the pretty young fae who had made them. "Opal," he greeted, monotonous voice the same quiet rumble as he places the shorter feathers of the sea hawk he had caught on her counter carefully. He knew the jeweler enjoyed the short, plush feathers, and would pay a nice price for them, though the longer feathers usually went to the couturiers. "Any need for these?" Straight to the point, Delano flicked his silky tail once in impatience.

Opal gave her usual bright grin to the grouchy beta, earning a quiet growl in return, before examining the feathers. They would be great for a new project - something more rustic, a necklace with matching earrings perhaps? And soft saiga leather, with turquoise gems... "Yes, I can use them, sir," she answered sweetly, having never been one to hold back her loving attitude even with the sour brute, though keeping respect in her tone as she looked to the tiny chest she kept her job payments in. Curling two silver pieces and a few nickels into the pad of her paw, she slid them over to the scruffy brute. "Two silvers and four nickels - I assume that's okay?" When met with an affirmative grunt and a deft paw swiping the coins into a small leather sack, the curvy fae gave another smile and waved him off, carefully gathering every little feather once the bell had rung again. Her work hours were almost finished, the sun curving behind the horizon in a glorious sunset, and Opal would soon be able to pick up her order from Finch. The fae felt an odd excitement bubbling in her chest at the thought, pushing the feeling aside as she almost dropped a few feathers.

((Question for Sak - should I start with Aron on his own, or will he be with Seri from the beginning?))

[spiff]

((Sorry for my absence, guys, I've been running short on inspiration lately. Mirage, I was thinking that I'd start out with having Olaf ask Aron to take the job before bringing Seri totally into the picture. So you could make a post with him somewhere where Olaf can find him.))

[The Royal Mirage]

((No problem Sak, just post when you can))

The sun was setting on the busy peace of the eastern shores, glittering orange sparks slicking over the rolling ocean waves lazily in the early evening. A large brute, taller than most of the wolves who padded the miniature market, stood next to a little bake shop, nibbling a short baguette that had been made that morning. Caramel orbs peered out calmly from under dark brows, snowy speckles flashing over strong shoulders as Aron observed the passers-by as his short job was coming to an end. The baker had been having trouble with an omega stealing their breads, and had felt extra protection was necessary. Aron hadn't seen any trouble all day though, and as the day began to settle into night, so did his employer. His job was done. Munching the last of his bread and receiving his payment - some nickel and copper pieces - Aron nodded his farewell and started down the cobbled path towards his little cottage.

((Olaf can run into him anywhere))

[-goldleaf-]

Nutmeg couldn't help but smile at the crowfeather fae when she stuck her tongue out at him, letting out a little 'ohoo' coo of affectionate surprise. Together they had made their way up the hill to the camp that crested it, and he flicked his rather stiff tail to brush her flank in a little wispy whip of a return to her playfully pointed reply. His slow progress up the slant sped up now as the terrain leveled out, slightly muddied toes more limbered up than usual from his short run. If it hadn't been so late in the day when the storm had passed, he would have done what he had originally been planning; taking Bastian to see a few of the sights, to see the places that had been his mothers favorites. "I think I'm quite ready for a little weaving," he said with an air of forced preoccupation as he split from her to head in the direction of his den. Nutmeg cast a little glance back her way though, soft brown eyes flashing in a look of aged knowing, "Enjoy your carefree day Miss Lilith, you never know how many life will give you."

-

A sneeze sent Lilu standing in a hurry, and then a following laugh had her slender shoulders shaking in amusement as she realized that it had been her who had sneezed. It wasn't often that the fae felt herself fall victim to dust or spices in the form of a sneeze, but whenever it did happen she was always so stupidly surprised. A little self-mocking smile staying playing on her lips as she collected together the last few things she needed for treating Clarence, whom she assumed was still waiting in the garden. It had taken her only a few minutes to take Gemini a little pouch of poppy seeds and to sprinkle on some relaxing aloe and mint powder to his cuts, but she found herself feeling a pang of guilt for having left he beta to his own injuries for so long. As she took out a little spongy piece of cloth, just in case, she picked up the whole of her selected supplies in a little satchel with her porcelain teeth. Soon enough she was trotting lightly around her inherited den, following the little garden path that wound around either side of it so that she was soon stepping out of the wilting bushes and finding her brows lifting in combined surprise and greeting as she met both Ruby and Clarence in the richly scented garden. Lilu's bright eyes fell on Ruby's shoulder as a reflex while she padded over to Clarence, blinking and dropping her gaze to her satchel in satisfaction when she saw that it was still looking nicely treated as she took a seat beside Clarence. The pearl and honey fae was quiet as she opened up her satchel, eyes lifting to the beta's in a little look of apology and 'hello' before falling to his own shoulder. A small wrinkle formed between her brows as she frowned in analysis of his wound, once again letting her mind cast back over her mental checklist of how to treat it.

-

"You're horrible, you know that right?" Devin sent sand crumbling back to the beach as she twisted her willowy frame around to cast her diamond adorned set of hazel eyes back to Fenrick's water-slicked figure as he stumbled out of the frosty froth of low tide. His response was naturally to attempt to send a splash of water her way, more for the gesture itself than to actually get her wet she knew, for they were too far apart on the shore for it to have any possibility of reaching her. As he kicked up a forepaw to send forth an arch of sunset-lit water he lost his balance when a little incoming wave shook against his frame, sending him tumbling back down into the water with a shout. Devin's laugh was what greeted his ears when he resurfaced, her fine featured face set in a look of smug cheekiness for him getting a bit of the karma she had commented on. The pair had spent the afternoon combing over the beach after the tide had gone back out, falling into a kind of lengthy discussion about anything and everything that their shared blood-bond held them accountable for as they marveled over little shells and chased each other with pinching little crabs. He had told her about his evening, and she had been both surprised and disapproving of his evening with Anna. But she was also prone to feeling that way about any budding relationship Fen started with doves, no matter how poetically he could spin the story of their time spent together. For, just that morning, she had spent the better part of the day trying to drag him outside to douse him in soapy water after he had fallen asleep with a little wine-skin in his paw; making him wake up much more purple than blue and certainly less clean-smelling than what was his natural scent. Together they had spent the day once again picking upon his destructive tendencies after nightfall, and she felt delighted at the time being for having accomplished both getting him to take a sea-chilled bath and for the items they had collected. She could give their basket of trinkets to one of the jewelers though, for their father had told them that it was time again to hold up the pretense of their selfless family name that he had built for them. He had taught them that giving things for free was a way of earning something greater than money, and that it was what real pack members should do for one another.

"Just think, soon we'll be at the festival, and you wont have to deal with me for your only company," Fen teased, running up alongside his sister on the beach as water drops spiraled from his wildly spotted pelt. His words were of course a joke of their own, for his lithe sister was as much a social butterfly as she was a wolf, and he had no doubt that she often sacrificed her own socializing time to prey upon making him suitable for who knows what. He pranced forward and checked his flank against hers fleetingly, her plush fur sponging up the moisture from his sea-salted pelt and earning a haphazardly aimed swipe to his ears from her as he laughed and danced away. The pair were a striking match, him looking wildly unkempt yet made docile as he picked up their basket of shells and rocks, and her looking flustered but in good humor as she fitfully combed through her powder blue coat to smooth the damp spikes that his touch had given her.

[The Royal Mirage]

((I want to send Opal to see Fen or Devin about getting a new lyre string sometime, I just don't have the time to type right now :s I'll be fully available soon, but I'm reading everything))

((boop))

Lilith watched the brute go, stopping short when he had dismissed her and just watching as the elder disappeared. The burdock root she had tucked into one of the bone rings around her tail reminded her of why she had left in the first place, though the midnight fae was still wondering where Bastian could be. He probably turned in early... she could fulfill her promise to visit tomorrow, surely. With a quick nod to herself, the slender fae slunk back towards the medicine den.

---

((waiting for Nellas before posting with Ruby))

---

As Delano's presence dissipated from the quaint jewelry shop, Opal felt the atmosphere turn just soft enough for it to be closing time. Making sure her kiln was thoroughly doused and stores locked, the fae slipped out of her shop with her coin purse and a small saiga satchel embroidered with her namesake and tiny rubies. The curvy fae had remembered that she needed to get a new string for her lyre, meaning a visit to some old family friends. Speaking of which... It was easy to see the star-dappled midnight siblings anywhere, though especially against the backdrop of the pure white sands. Just watching them interact brought a smile to Opal's lips, their soft curve reaching her diamond-accented eyes with ease as she swayed over to them with an amiable arch to her neck. "Devin! Fenrick!" she called out brightly, a slight rasp accenting her sweet soprano at the slight bounce of her quickened stride before reaching the pair.

[-goldleaf-]

Fen gave Devin a lazy smile as she gave an exasperated little huff at him for musing her fur so thoroughly in such a small amount of time, finding delight in the fact that he could feel so at ease with his own disarrayed pelt. She stood, height formidable to him but not really at his level as he scampered away from her with a few bouncing sidesteps, setting a forepaw in the sand and if to skim his paw along it to send a shower her way. It was a playful threat, for her slender forelegs had extended, sending her into a look of playful chase as she let her blue blush tail drift back and forth in a lazy little beat of amusement. He was stopped from saying a verbal warning though, for the basket held gingerly between his lips ruined any kind of witty remark he could have made to her looking better all messy than her usual carefree yet pristine appearance. Her hazel eyes flashed with surprise as they both heard their names called out, though as Fen turned to see whom it was, he felt Devin prance up behind him to nip at his already hole-punched ear affectionately. Devins radiant little smile was an answer enough for the both of them as they faced he dove who had called out; the dark hollows of Fens eyes flashing their unsettling contrast to his odd eyes as his dark brows raised in surprise to see Opal advancing through the sand.

"Opal! Look what Fen did to me this time," Devin returned brightly, white socks of sand making sweeter the look of her slender legs from when her brother had earlier sent her wading through a little tide pool and then tossed sand onto her; true to the fashion of bothersome brothers. She was unable to keep from the slight bend that came to her usually elegantly-aligned posture in the presence of the lavender accented dove, finding a kind of solace in their long-time acquaintance. Dev had never exactly had a best friend, and especially no one she felt sisterly with in the pack, but there was a certain comfort in the presence of the long time friendship between Opal and her own family. Plus, she would forever feel a kin of kinship with the fae for the diamond adornments that they shared on their nearly opposite-spectrum eyes. "We found you some pretty shells though, if you want any of them." Beside her she could hear Fen set down their basket, half turning in time to catch the comical little joking flourish he gave in gesturing to the array of pretty trinkets they had discovered. It was a rare occurrence that Devin was in the company of both Fen and Opal for very long, for they never seemed to be in the same place at the same time. A matter of which she found comforting, for her fae friend had a good name and standing in the pack, and Fen was known for his rapidly decreasing one.

[The Royal Mirage]

Opal gave a bright laugh at the sandy stockings on Devin's beautiful legs, taking in their more slender shape in the way she always did, with appreciation that lacked envy. She thought her friend was absolutely stunning of course, but Opal was comfortable enough in her own skin not to feel overshadowed by the flashy fae. "I think it looks lovely," she teased, lifting a forepaw to slightly cover her too-broad smile, the siblings effectively distracting her from her proximity to the water. Ruby orbs shifted almost cautiously over to Fen, finding her gaze seemed to linger too long on the brute's wild pelt and devilish eyes for her own comfort, forcing them to the basket of shells instead. "Oh my, they're beautiful," she mused, padding forward unabashedly to take a closer look. "Surely you could sell these though? I'd be happy to pay for them," the creamy fae added, returning her gaze to Devin as the sea breeze ruffled her growing hackles playfully. Ever politically correct, Opal simply didn't feel right taking them, especially from such close friends of her family. "Besides," she added, "I was hoping to buy some new strings for my lyre, a few extra coins won't bankrupt me."

[-goldleaf-]

"If you paid then you might find your money start to walk off," Fen mused suddenly, drawing Devin's thoughtful assessment of her sandy paws down instead to their basket, where a certainly lovely little shall was shifting about and making for an escape on spindly little legs. A delighted laugh slipped from her lips and she stooped to look at the hermit crab, blinking happily as Fen's blueberry paw dipped deftly into the basket to extract the little creature. "I knew that one was too good to be true," Devin laughed, straightening to peek over fens shoulder as he half turned to set the crab in the right direction of the dampened sand. It was a wonder that the little thing hadn't pinched him, as they always did. "You can still have pick of the bunch though, we don't use shells anymore in our woodworking, and it would hardly seem fair to charge you when you're always out here yourself." her voice was light, though tone conveying that she thought no matter about Opal paying them, it made no proper sense to her for the bejeweled fae to purchase the shells since she could have so easily have chanced upon them first. Plus Fen had once tried to teach her about supply and demand, it was why they always made so many more trades with the other packs during festivals than with members of their own pack. "Oh but the string; Fen made some just the other night." Her brother let forth a small note of either amusement or secret mocking, no doubt recalling how she had had to almost barricade him into the craft room to work for a while when all he had wanted to do was help her in the kitchen.

[The Royal Mirage]

Opal giggled sweetly as the little creature scuttled deftly across the golden sands, feeling a shiver run through her at the involuntary glimpse of the ocean she caught before focusing again on the siblings. "I suppose I'll pick a couple out and just pay extra for the string then," the lavender-accented fae offered, the waning light of the sun warming her creamy pelt for just a few moments longer before the glowing orb had fully dipped below the horizon. The days were getting so short, and a cold wind had begun to blow into camp. It would soon be too cold to live in the seaside pack, and each year Opal grew more apprehensive of the wolves' ability to travel through the wilds for so long. Shaking the thoughts from her head in a rather unladylike fashion, her gaze shifted first to Devin, then to Fenrick after carefully steeling her resolve to only look and not see. He had a way with tempting words that had captivated Opal's attentions on more than one occasion, and she had learned to keep them from affecting her too deeply. "Do you have time for me tonight? I'm supposed to pick up some glass rings from Finch as well, but it would be nice to get everything done at once."

[-goldleaf-]

Fen's dark-lined eyes flickered up to Opal's face with an appreciative smile tugging at his features to her half-agreement of not paying for the shells. She was always so.. smooth, about things. He wondered vaguely what she was like when she was bothered by something, having never quite experienced being near her during such an occasion. Though he could recall brushing or nipping her tail once, he couldn't remember which it had been, when they were still rather young and receiving a rather heated look before he was escaping out the garden door to leave the girls to whatever their play had been for that day. When her eyes shifted suddenly to his he felt his chest tighten slightly, wondering minutely as he always did whether or not he was making up the hesitation that always seemed to come before someone would meet his gaze. Another little flash of a smile touched against his lips as he nodded almost reflexively to her question, though he couldn't help but feel a slight arch overtake his scarred brow at her mention of stopping by the smith's shop as well. It seemed a bit late to be making pick-ups. "We can go right now if you like." he offered, changing his slight brow raise into a masking look of good-natured questioning as he raised both features instead of one. Their cottage home and store wasn't far, and he had little doubt that it would take them too long for him to give her the string and possibly apply it if she wanted.