[ P ] Everybody Wants To Rule The World

C

alculating and dark ultramarine eyes scanned the crowd, ears perked and listening for whatever information she could attain from such an event. Being here with Rhiannon was an absolute treat and yet there was business to attend to as well. Prince Jacob was here...and with a fox? That was something to be noted, indeed.

What sort of mischief could the two of them be planning. She often wondered why he sought the throne in the first place...despite wanting to be the dominant male of the nation. Was he not aware that with parliament in place, he would simply be another pawn? Oh, those poor, poor foolish men...

Speaking of men... Her gaze turned upwards towards a couple nearby and instantly she recognized the familiar faces of her lovely friend, Aryth, and of course, he was joined by none other than the handsome, rugged, Grigori.

The grin that donned upon her maw might have put the fox's to shame as she made her way towards the two, tail held high as she trotted gracefully to meet them. "What a delightful way to end a Winter Carnival, don't you boys think?" She practically purred with her announced arrival, brushing up against the professor and eyeing his beau with lift of her brow.

@Arythmetik @Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

THREAD TITLE MUSE

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth was drowning beneath the flood of internal conflict. Only the presence of the powerful male at his side buoyed him to the surface. Could that really be…Prince Jacob? Just when he feared the country’s turmoil couldn’t be worse, the rightful heir to the throne reappeared. If the rumors were to be believed, of course. Arythmetik, once a devoted subject of Queen Aileen, did see familiar features in the enigmatic figure. And the color of his fur was undeniable. But why return now, when the scholar’s heart was already nearly swayed from the monarchy altogether? If only the Prince had returned during the drought to rescue his people… It would have been easier to reconcile the political tension and fight for their old ways.


But, in Aryth’s opinion, the people rescued themselves instead. Where did that leave room for Jacob?


The scholar was intrigued and relieved by his friend’s arrival. She would certainly have refreshing thoughts on the matter. Aryth turned to offer her a smile, blinking in faint surprise as she showered him with affection. But the humble male’s smile widened, and he leaned into the embrace as he chimed, “My Lady of the Lake! I was hoping the flames hadn’t scared you away.” He winked because he knew, of course, that Nimue wasn’t scared of anything. Suddenly, he was aware of how close they were. He looked up at Grigori and wagged his tail nervously. “Heh, woops, I suppose some introductions are in order. This is my dear friend Nimue, perhaps you recognize her in passing from the College grounds? And Nim, this is my…significant other, Grigori.” Just saying the outlander’s name made Aryth smile wider. He looked at his partner lovingly. “Grigori watches over the College’s property. We’ve been…er, seeing…together…one another…” Aryth cleared his throat. “For about a year now.”

@Grigori @Nimue

It was beginning to look like Winter was simply bad luck in Rionnach. First a ball marred by an assassination attempt, now this turning out to be.. what exactly? Some kind of covert political rally for an exiled prince? What was it even supposed to accomplish? All the parties of this conflict, aside from the king who would be hard pressed to escape the renown that comes with being a king, were far too nebulous for an outlander like him to keep track of. Not that it matters. In the end, all it amounts to is the fact that the time of stability they enjoyed might be coming to an end. That’s nothing Grigori couldn’t get through, and yet..

The blonde brute glanced to the wolf beside him. His presence, ever soothing, was simultaneously also a source of unease. Grigori recalled how Aryth spoke of turbulent times that took place before his arrival. He could only hope the scholar won’t have to live through anything like that again.

His silent trepidation got interrupted by the confident approach of a woman, one that he recalled from the class Aryth had hosted. She knew how to make a lasting impression with a look alone, albeit one that was confusing at best and unpleasant at worst. The cowboy didn’t think of it much then, but the way she casually brushed against his lover while eyeing him caused his so far inward frown to turn very much outward.

Yet Aryth seemed pleased by her company, so he said nothing. If nothing else, this can’t be worse than thinking of things that are much too uncertain.

When the professor started to do the introductions, Grigori relaxed somewhat. It would be difficult to keep his lips from tugging upwards as the other stumbled over words.. and he appreciated the openness. Somewhere in the back of his mind, being involved with another man still was something that absolutely could not be mentioned publicly. He wasn’t sure if he would have been to say a similar explanation out loud himself.. but the least he could do was stand proud when it was spoken. “And known each other for ‘bout a year before that.” he added, to paint the full picture. Aryth was the first.. well, the second wolf he’d met in Rionnach. But the first encounter turned out brief, and they were near simultaneous regardless.

Alas, at this point he probably needed to say something more than that. He couldn’t let the first wolf to officially know them as a couple think that Aryth had a boor for a boyfriend. So, eyeing Nimue with some wariness, he decided to start carefully and see where things go from there. “Howdy lass.”

„*”

A

delighted cackle of sorts arose from her throat, though it was far more melodic than it was unpleasant. Like a siren's tune as it filled the space like a chorus of bells. "On the contrary, my dearest poet..." She locked eyes with Aryth, searching, out of curiosity, for something more to his jest relating to the fire. "...I am but a lovely lunar moth and the flames doth infinitely draw me to them!" She leaned against him, dramatically taking a paw to her forehead before righting herself once more at the mention of introductions.

Nimue hardly had to look at the other far more rugged brute to know that he already had a distaste for her demeanor. She could feel the way the energy shifted the moment she made her entrance. As soon as the word 'significant other' was spoken, her deep blue eyes seemed to brighten in the likeness of stars against a midnight sky. "Aaahaa!" Her fond gaze upon Arythmetik turned to Grigori, a coy grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "So this is who you went sneaking off with at the Winter Ball last year...I see you've once again found each other." She waggled her eyebrows and playfully bit at her lip. "If you two need your privacy you needn't keep quiet on my account." She snickered and nudged Aryth with an elbow.

She finally rested her eyes upon Grigori as he expanded on the brief telling of their union. "That's a long time for a budding courtship. I do so enjoy seeing the lasting love of a blossomed couple." Nimue hopped up again, slinking away from her seated friend and over to his mate, circling him as she studied the much larger male's physique. The enchantress hummed all the while until finally she poked out from behind the broad shouldered man, grinning at Aryth. "Well done, he's quite the catch."

Gliding back to nestle herself next to Aryth she looked back towards the flames that engulfed the space they resided in. And, oh, did the screams and shrieks of witches past echo in within the inferno. For a split second, she stared blankly into them, soaking it all in, before she shook her head and smiled at her beloved professor. She cut her eyes at the larger man still poised next to her and smirked. "And, don't you worry your little head, pet. I can feel the scowl before it even graces your lips." She turned her face towards him to ensure she was making herself perfectly clear. "Don't flatter yourself...I have absolutely no interest in your lover, nor you, nor any of your kind. Men, that is. I much prefer the company of more...feminine delights."

@Arythmetik @Grigori

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck