[The Velvet Ear] Midnight Magic

by **Inari Lorak** on October 15th, 2013, 7:05 am

Inari felt her anger disappear in a puff of smoke, and painful bewilderment replace it. She was always this terse with him; that was just the way they were with each other. Why had he taken it so awfully...wrong this time?

A few years ago, she might have reacted in tears. After all, if there was one thing as equally unfamiliar to her as poverty or a life of enslavement, it was rejection. The first time it had happened, she had spent months in a horrid wreckage of the shattered bits of her heart and soul, barely able to find the effort to chew what little food she had interest in, let alone stand up and fight her way back to wholeness and sanity.

After that, she simply refused to let it happen again. Inari never gave anyone any reason to dislike her, and therefore rarely, if ever, faced the outright spurn of someone she trusted.

She'd rather die, though, than admit such a cowardly strategy even existed.

But, as things stood, she was much too far past that initial phase of despair and confusion to simply reduce to a heap of useless liquids and even more useless emotions. Instead, her first instinct was to narrow her eyes and grab at Rowan's sleeve, matching glare for glare.

"Something's wrong."

It wasn't a question. She stared at the back of his head, wishing more than ever she had the power to peer inside of it. Whatever had been eating at him all night was making him act stranger than ever, and despite his usual jokes and shrugs, it was tearing him at the seams. She could see it clear as day, what with the way he was running around, babbling as though a small fire had lit the seat of his trousers. And what was this? Using her aunt as some kind of shield? How horribly, utterly predictable.

Inari was going to have none of it. At first. And then, like a quiet cloud of balmy plague, a familiar feeling of dread and hopelessness crept in, blackening her resolve till it was no more than charred bits of will. She was forced to realize, for the thousandth time, that their days of easy friendship had long since died, and so too had all his grand promises of happiness and forevers.

She let his sleeve go, her own hand falling uselessly to her side. Her face was blank, and so was her mind. What was the point?

Oh, right, there isn't one.

"Nevermind. I'm sorry to see you two go so soon, I really am. Enjoy your night."

And then she turned to rejoin the ranks of peers and fellow performers behind the back door, carefully rearranging herself back into the composed, wry visage of hostess and storyteller.

by **Estrellir Konrath** on October 20th, 2013, 4:58 pm

Estrellir raised her eyebrows at the suggestion from a masked lady who looked and sounded more boyish than ladylike. The curly hair and dark fur cloak made it hard to distinguish any details. Her senses only told her the person was an Askara, but at that moment the trouble between Inari and the Morealis guy seemed more promising.

Although she strained her ears, it was difficult to discern clear words or content behind the voices. First they were raised, interrupted by a soft remark from Eyasia, the Konti guessed. Then the male voice calmed down, paused and changed tone. Estrellir thought Rowan had adressed Inari first and then Eyasia. He seemed to treat them differently, for whatever reason his relationship with Inari was complicated. Underneath the rough surface she sensed friendship though. Perhaps some event had broken their bond or at least injured it beyond repair.

Inari's voice sounded cool and clear as she spoke, mirror image of the storyteller she was. The floor vibrated with light steps coming closer to where Estrellir lingered near the door. Before the Lorak could touch the handle, however, the Konti opened it. Her firm gaze told that she had a vague idea of what was going on. “It seems like the little snake could have more friends than she does. Isn't this a chance?”

Looking over the storyteller's shoulder, she shot a glance at Rowan and his companion, checking if she had their attention. “I heard some agitation in your voices. Is everything alright? Maybe I could serve as a mediator as I've no personal connection to any of you. It did sound like you had a problem of personal nature and those are better resolved quickly than postponed forever.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “Forgive me if I'm being too bold.” That was a mere phrase, Estrellir never acted on a whim. Hidden in her offer to help was the desire to investigate.

by **Vice** on April 1st, 2014, 7:37 am

Inari Lorak :

Estrellir Konrath :

Rowan Morealis :

Adair Askara :

Comments: Such an interesting thread... it's a shame it never got to finish D:

Inari, that story was lovely. Very well done! ^.^

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, do not hesitate to ask! We'll discuss my reasons for assigning what was given. If you still don't agree, then perhaps something can be worked out.

Enjoy! Also, please mark the thread as 'graded' in the grading queue, please.

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