Storm Clouds

loveisfatality:

jadedfrost:

mercifulwings:

Shayera eyes Minori carefully at the statement and smirks when they make eye contact.  

“Understandable,” she says, “You’re a soldier, are you not?”  Turning back to Laira, she nods in acknowledgment.  ”Then we’re focusing on your mother most of all, I take it.”

“Well, we want to keep Laira safe during all this too so we have the same goal.” Jade said, taking another drink from her drink to hid a laugh as she noticed Laira’s movements give away that she had nudged Minori. Her thoughts quickly turned somber and she placed the cup on the table.

“It’s not my place but, your mother’s reappearance, you can’t let it distract you. It could be dangerous.” She said, finding herself shrink back as she noticed the guards stare at her.

Yrra’s hand quickly found Jade’s, giving it a tight squeeze for reassurance.  She shot the guards an icy look.  Yes, they had never seen a human before.  Still, their audacity to just stare like that…Yrra had no problem reminding them of their place.  She pulled Jade a bit closer to her, wrapping her arm around her girlfriend’s shoulders.  She hoped somehow, that would make Jade feel a bit safer.

“The Black Phoenix,” Yrra said, slowly, as if getting a taste for the words.  ”I should’ve known you had an ace up your sleeve, Laira.” She gave Minori an appraising look, as if trying to gauge the sort of warrior she was.  Her gaze seemed to have the same effect on Minori as it did the guards.  Yrra tried not to roll her eyes.  ”I think Laira is quite capable of protecting herself.  I will follow her lead.”

“Having her away from Rubyn will not only ease my own mind significantly, but also lessen what little leverage my brother currently has over me,” Laira explains, glancing toward the entrance of her suite when a couple of individuals passed through the curtains with trays. “Excuse me for a moment,” she says, placing her cup down and moving to the front of the room.

Minori watched Laira move out of the corner of her eye and smiled a bit when a small dark haired girl, one of the cook’s daughters, came through the curtains. She tugged lightly at the princess’ shirt and held out a small cluster of flowers to her when she knelt down to address her. “One of the princess’ students,” Minori stated, noticing the questioning looks of the others. “She has been teaching fighting techniques to the daughters of the staff when she is able.”

The captain returned the Thanagarian’s smirk, silent understanding passing between the two of them. She liked her already. “Army captain and commanding officer of the Black Phoenixes,” she answered before nodding in Laira’s direction. “Also, at this time, I’m acting as the princess’ personal bodyguard. I have had personal experience with Rubyn and know full well what he is capable.” She reaches up to unclasp the neck of her jacket and sheds the piece of clothing, exposing her tattooed arms and the grisly scar that runs the entire underside of her right one.

(Source: princessofjayd)

Storm Clouds

loveisfatality:

jadedfrost:

mercifulwings:

Shayera mulls over the information carefully.  So he’ll only been seen if he wants to be seen?  That sounds like a predatory move.  Then they’ll need bait, seeing he already has something against them as well.  The Thanagarian crinkles her nose as she thinks to herself.  

A cup is placed before her and she glances at the solider who offers it.  Raising an eyebrow as the cup is filled with a hot liquid.  Glancing up to Laira, she smiles.  It’s tea.  Taking a sip, Shayera sighs out and feels more at ease.  She’s missed that.  The kitten Shayera’s lap purrs and she pets it as titls her head to the side.

“Laira, what is your game plan for this?”

What is it you hope to gain?  But Shayera withholds that question.

Jade drinks the tea after some encouragement from Laira. It burns a little as it goes down but she liked the taste. As Shayera and Laira talked she watched silently before blowing gently on the tea to lower the temperature.

This had to be difficult for Laira and she wasn’t sure saying anything right now would be wise until she knew the plan. She understood how much losing family could hurt and if one of them were somehow alive out there, Jade would do whatever it took to get them back.

But Laira was a leader and a Green Lantern. And more importantly, to Jade at least, her friend. She wasn’t about to let Laira do something that would get her killed or something she would regret.

Unsure of what else to do in that moment, she reached under the table and found Yrra’s hand to hold and gave it a gentle squeeze. Part of her knew it was silly but she felt a little less out of her depth with the aspects of alien royal secrets and manhunt knowing Yrra would be here too.

Manhunts for dangerous criminals, plotting, cups of spiced tea-it felt like the lost years all over again.  Yrra gave the tea a quick sniff, double checking for any traces of poisons or sedatives.  Not that she didn’t trust Laira, but Yrra had a habit of not drinking or eating anything she didn’t prepare herself-you didn’t know who could trust.  And these soldiers, well, they were Golden Dragons.  Not Laira’s men.  Yrra took a careful sip, knowing she’d be able to detect any traces of poisons that way, if she couldn’t tell by scent.

“So,” Yrra said, placing the cup back onto it’s saucer as gently as possible.  ”Tell me about your allies.”  The ring pulse at that exact moment, informing Yrra that she had a message from the Zamarons.  ”Finally,” Yrra said, causing her companions to give her a confused look.  ”The Zamarons have contacted me, if you would excuse me.”

“Message for: Star Sapphire Yrra Cynril, concerning missing Jaydian.  We cannot pinpoint his location.  However, based on his crimes, we can grant you permission to deal with him as you see fit.”  Yrra was unsurprised by the answer, though she was in a different mindset now then when she had asked.  To kill Laira’s brother-she knew her friend would never forgive her, regardless of context.  Yrra ran a hand through her hair, reentering Laira’s chambers.  ”So, what did I miss?”

Minori glanced at the princess at the request for both a plan and the desire to know more of her companions, eyes questioning. She would reveal nothing unless approved by her friend.

Laira caught Minori’s look and nodded softly at her silent question. “You may elaborate once Yrra returns, Minori. I trust these women and do not believe that they would put us in danger intentionally.” She looked to Shayera, cup balanced delicately in hand. “At the moment, my plan is to simply track down my brother and return him to his imprisonment. Finding my mother and having her safely retrieved is my primary goal. Until I hear more from my companions, I cannot tell you more than that. There are still too many unknowns.”

Minori shrugged her shoulders, sipping at her tea. “I fear the walls more than your friends, princess.” She glanced up when the Star Sapphire reentered the room and took her seat again. “The companions that the princess spoke of are members of a guard known as the Black Phoenixes. We operate underground, separate from the Jaydian army, and answer to Laira or Empress Akina. None of you have a reason to be wary of me unless you attempt to harm the princess in any sort of way.” She shrugged when Laira nudged her leg with her foot, “I merely state the truth.”

(Source: princessofjayd)

Jayd Arc - Solo Prose Pieces, Threads, & Extra Information

princessofjayd:

Here’s a list of the three solo pieces I have done so far and the beginning thread that is currently going on. There are also pieces written by other members of the arc. Pieces bullet pointed underneath any listing occur during that particular thread. As I continue with the arc and more people join, I will add things to this list and reblog for reference every so often. Everything is listed in chronological order.

• Extra Information: Post I
• Extra Information: Post II

——————————————————————————————————-

1. Escape
2. Black Phoenix
3. Vanquish
4. Storm Clouds (Active)
   
   • Take Off the Training Wheels by loveisfatality
   • Breaking Silence by bestinavest & princessofjayd
   • Haunted by princessofjayd
   • Pretend by mercifulwings
   • Night by jadedfrost

Extra Information II

• Laira’s royal heritage stems from her mother’s side of the family, not from her father’s. They are originally from what is now the Southern Territory of Jayd.
• Kentor Omoto was a commander within the army and did not inherit his emperor title until he married the oldest princess from the Southern Territory, Azarni.
• The planet was originally ruled by one emperor (or empress) but, after consideration from the ruling family, was split into five territories and appointed separate rulers from within the Golden Dragon clan in hopes that the rulers would be able to cater to their people’s need in a better fashion.
• When the territories were split, the five ruling emperors and empresses agreed to form a Council that would meet not only to vote upon various laws but to also discuss happenings on the planet and possible trading plans with other planets within their star system. Emergency gatherings would be called whenever they were a necessity.
• When Laira was still a young child, her three uncles along with their wives and children were all killed in unclaimed public attacks. Given that Rubyn and Laira were still too young to take rule, Kentor Omoto appointed three highborn Jaydian army officers to take command of the territories until his children were old enough to take proper control.
• Soon after these attacks and change in rule, Empress Azarni disappeared from the Northern Territory.
• The current ruling emperors of the Western, Eastern, and Central Territories of Jayd are the same highborn military commanders that Kentor appointed when he was still ruling.
• The colors of the banners that are displayed in the streets and within the palaces vary by the territory. Currently, the north is green, the south is pale blue, the central is black, the east is white, and the west is purple.
• Ree’Yu is the only daughter (and child) of the current ruler of the Western Territory.

Just as my brother has his own allies, I have mine.

Storm Clouds

loveisfatality:

jadedfrost:

mercifulwings:

Shayera watches the small exchange between Yrra and Laira.  There’s some tension and she understands the tone Yrra holds.  She’ll do what needs to be done.  Shayera closes her eyes, thinking of a time when she was willing to do what needs to be done.  But this is not her territory.  She’s not fighting a war anymore.  She’s not under orders.  She’s here to protect a friend.  

It’s unnerving, obviously, how her brother has escaped and her mother’s sudden appearance.  It can’t be a coincidence.   Shayera narrows her eyes in some thought.  If her brother knows their mother’s whereabouts, there is no doubt he’d use her to get to Laira or whatever goal he needs.  

“When was this?  And do you know the exact location?”

Jade watched Yrra and Laira’s conversation and the tension was palpable. She knew exactly what Yrra wanted to do and it would be easier on the technical side of things. Rubyn would no longer be around and could no longer pose a threat but Laira wanted to hold onto what little family she had left. Jade could understand that and hoped that Rubyn wouldn’t press them so far that killing him was the only option.

She looked down, knowing that deep down this should bother her how they were discussing this or that she was even considering this in her head. Then she remembered The Question had said ice wielders usually killed someone eventually. That sent an involuntary shiver down her spine and she decided to ignore that train of thought and focus on the security footage.

“I’m glad she’s still alive, Laira.” Jade managed to say. “We’ll find a way to keep her safe too.”

“Interesting,” Yrra said, glancing once more at the image Laira held in her hand.  This entire thing was starting to give her a very bad feeling.  ”A missing brother and a presumed dead mother appearing at the same time?” she asked aloud, locking eyes with Laira.  ”I know you’re thinking along the same lines I am, Laira.  Something isn’t adding up.  Something is suspicious.”

Yrra’s thoughts began to race.  ”Where did this information of your mother come from, Laira?” she asked, her suspicions only growing.  ”Because the last thing you want is to walk into a trap.”

“In a honesty, determining whether I would walk into a trap is a rather irrelevant thing. Rubyn knows that I will pursue him and if he had wanted to truly disappear, he would have done so. He let himself be caught, not due to a miscalculation, but to cast out temptation,” she muttered out, more to herself. She knew her brother’s games all too well. She’d been playing them long enough, after all.

“Just as my brother has his own allies, I have mine,” Laira replied, a general statement meant to address all three women. She glanced away from the hologram when Minori passed into her quarters through the curtains, tray laden with tea cups and a black kettle balanced easily in one hand. The captain passed behind her and knelt to place the tray on the table next to the tablet. “We discovered this nearly a week ago,” she said, turning her gaze to Shayera and then down to Minori. “You are more familiar with the capital than I am, Minori. Do you recognize the location that we captured this from?”

The soldier glanced up from pouring the hot liquid from the kettle, hands gingerly placing the object back down. “It’s near the border of the Eastern Territory,” she explained, using her fingers to pan out and rotate the image to a different view. She pointed to a portion of the image partially concealed in the background. “You can see the red moon rising from the north.” Her attention returned to pouring the liquid from the kettle into the onyx colored tea cups she’d gathered while in the kitchen. Minori held the first up to the princess before filling the other four. “I requested the kitchen to prepare something. I thought your guests might be hungry,” she stated, passing the other cups out and keeping one for herself. She gave a small smile to Jade when she seemed hesitant to drink, “It is melle and aurantiaco tea. It relieves tension in muscles due to travel.”

(Source: princessofjayd)

Jayd Arc - Solo Prose Pieces & Threads

princessofjayd:

Here’s a list of the three solo pieces I have done so far and the beginning thread that is currently going on. There are also pieces written by other members of the arc. Pieces bullet pointed underneath any listing occur during that particular thread. As I continue with the arc and more people join, I will add things to this list and reblog for reference every so often. Everything is listed in chronological order.

1. Escape
2. Black Phoenix
3. Vanquish
4. Storm Clouds (Active)
   
   • Take Off the Training Wheels by loveisfatality
   • Breaking Silence by bestinavest & princessofjayd
   • Haunted by princessofjayd
   • Pretend by mercifulwings
   • Night by jadedfrost

Pretend

mercifulwings:

Her sleeping quarters are bigger than expected and she stares at the ceiling, organizing plans in her head.  Hro once told her that’s not always a good idea.  It causes restlessness.  Shayera throws an arm over her eyes and sighs.  She doesn’t want to think about Hro right now.  

 

The entire situation is a little disturbing.  Of course Shayera has been through worse but there’s something oddly dark about this particular mission.  And she’s not really sure why.  There had been something in Laira’s eyes—a light that dimmed as she had stared at the hologram of her brother.  And how she didn’t even hesitate to defend him.  

 

Maybe that was it.  On some level, Shayera gets it.  And that’s what is bothering her.  

 

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Haunted

The nightmares rouse her from sleep once again, bloodied images that steal the breath from her lungs and leave her muscles quaking. Laira does not awaken to her own screams, though, and for that she is thankful. Her companions seemed to be on edge enough as it was, Shayera and Minori especially, and she did not wish to alarm them more than she already had succeeded in doing.

She attempts to return to sleep, curling in on herself and listening to the soft snores of one of her kittens. Sleep eludes her, though, and soon she finds herself out of bed and walking the floors of her suite. It’s become a tradition of sorts since her release from the Red Lantern Corps. Pacing and reliving the events and attempting to banish the thoughts from her mind only to always fail.

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