Posts by SANGRIA .

Sangria hadn't beaten herself up over the words she served Dryice like he did himself. She apologized, twice even, though she wasn't entirely sure if either apology was true or meant anything more than words in the wind. She could understand his reasonings, why he approached the situation as he did. Her daughter could've been a great actress, a stunning murderer who perfected her crime long before the lot of them knew she was planning it. Magnolia could've been the Clan's worst nightmare in terms of who they allowed in; but Magnolia wasn't such. Dryice didn't know the princess like some of the Clan did - and perhaps that was why the woman took such offense so quickly. She was thankful she gave herself time to simmer down, lest his promises of an apology fall on angry deaf ears.

"Maggie, darling, do you want me to walk with you?" The early morning sun didn't wake up every Solarian, however upon rubbing the sleep from her eyes and hearing Dryice call for an apology, she figured she'd need to move faster. Magnolia was still a girl of her own path, still forging her own steps and making grander ones by the day despite the crime she committed, but Sangria would always be there to hold out her paw, "It sounds like he wants to say something," an apology, she wanted to clarify, though he already did that. Should Magnolia take up her side or not, the young Queen exited her home and joined Dryice towards the edge of the Oasis, tail twitching. She didn't say much, expression neutral if not pleasant.

[ magnolia mae <3 ]

Her son - her son was taken by the mongrels in the other desert? Was this to mock her? Her family? Dear Helios, what were they doing to him over there? She was late to the group as she approached, having heard by way of NPCs that there was a missing child, context clues and scents cluing her into to exactly which child was gone. Her mind flickered back to Buttercup, the terror and horror her daughter faced. The unfortunate part was that there was no one in the Ruins to vouch for Kirsche. They had Bloodpoppy, but her niece had made it clear that whatever favors she had saved up were burned out when she escaped. Her chest hammered with discomfort as she lingered near Johnny and Perses, trying to find the right course of action, trying to do anything but storm over there herself like an idiot.

"Bellona -" her throat clenched as she said the woman's name, "- if you can get my son back in one piece, then by all means, go. Take Ver and - and Raeliana with you," she glanced towards her Duskbreaker, not sparing many breaths as she pulled Perses closer to her, "I'll go to the Cartel and buy up their entire stock of poisons, Rae. Please." As for Johnny? Her limbs trembled at the idea of losing him too, so she stared, at a loss for what command to give him. Her throat hurt, her chest hurt, "Are you sure you want to go?" Ver had enemies, Raeliana had trauma, Bellona was risking her life and family - did Johnny have to gather up all three and go too? Did he have the strength to?

"Go - go, go, go," she shook her head anyways, tail fluffed up, "If you're not back with him by sun-down, I'm sending in a raid," it could end up just being her if the pieces fell like that, she didn't care. She held a gentle paw around Perses, forbidding him from leaving with the others.

No. Demeter's sister already witnessed the horrors of the anti-Clan life far before she was meant to, branded with the sick sign of the Red God and given enough trauma to overflow the ocean. Sangria was able to help her daughter then, but she ran off to Helios knows where. And now Emi was gone, too, perhaps destined to the same fate as her minutes old sister. Her limbs tensed uncomfortably as she joined the group, wings expanding as she wished so terribly that she could just take off now and demand her daughter back. But she wasn't stupid. S had graciously accepted her request of training her over again, but that didn't mean she was a master of her skill. She'd never be able to face it alone.

"Ver, Bellona, let's go," her chest heaved, leaving no room for discussion. Her eyes lingered on Magnolia, unwilling to allow another daughter to be subjected to whatever horror the Exiles beheld nowadays, but she knew her hurting child would want to be there to embrace Demeter as soon as she was able. Her paw tapped against the soft sand as she spoke quickly, "Maggie, if you're coming, stay behind us. Run as soon as there's a fight. Go to the nearest ally and request help," she could only hope her daughter would be fast enough. She glanced towards the others before heading off, limbs already aching.

She hadn't noticed the way that her paws skipped over much of the land as she made her way here, her wings carrying her weight as she sped as fast as she could, looking over her shoulder at the others she demanded come with her. She would get her daughter back, one way or another. It was that simple. Sangria only came to a stop upon the Exiles' border, hardly noticing how much fainter it had gotten since she was last here. She wondered for seconds if Corrupttimelines still lead, but didn't dwell on it. The young Queen looked at her small patrol again, giving Magnolia a short, confirming nod to be sure her younger child still knew her place in all of this, should it go south, before looking back over the canyon's edge.

"Exilers! We're here to retrieve the girl you've stolen from us," her tail lashed but her wings refused to fold. She'd back her words with threats if they didn't provide Demeter right away.

[ Ver Million   LOLA   magnolia mae pls wait for one of them 2 post! ]

Bellona's appearance beside her was met with a slight nod to acknowledge her existence, though her eyes remained trained on the canyon and the expanse before it. She knew she had spoken loud enough for someone to hear her - and soon enough someone did approach. Someone who looked tired and displeased, who fit the normal archetype for any Exiler if Sangria was honest. Her personal hostility was kept at bay at the meager hope that they would just hand her daughter over - but this man made assumptions based on her few words. The fur on her shoulders ruffled but she remained still, "Have I said anything about her being hurt? Did I compare you to the Ruins?" Did Cicero have a guilty conscious? His words frankly made no sense to Sangria considering none of them held grounds. She didn't demand anyone nor claim anything based on her rank - she said she was here to retrieve a child that was stolen. It seemed if anything, the Exilers were just as dense as before.

"I'll repeat myself since it didn't seem like you heard me before. We are here to retrieve the child you took from our lands," there was no demand in her words. She had been willing, almost, to find some sort of negotiation with the Exilers in case the rumors were true and they had changed - but not anymore. She didn't see the point in playing give-and-take with someone with poor listening skills right off the back, "Given how you've approached us, I honestly doubt you know a lick of negotiation, much less how to avoid conflict." He said he didn't 'want to hurt them,' but came at them with threats. In truth, he was flip-flopping and confusing, "And I would've considered negotiating, too. Unfortunate. If you want demands to brag about, then here they are: you bring me Demeter right now, or come sun-down, you'll have more to clean up than just your act." Ver would like to gather some scum into her claws, Sangria figured, and it seemed Bellona was tense enough to wish for the danger as well, "I hope you've had your head screwed on tight enough to understand that."

[ mobile & rushed! ]

This should be easy, right? Most of the issues that rose during the week were over by the week's end; her children were returned, three trials were done and finished, and they even had new faces among them. Still, as Sangria rasped her tongue over her shoulder, she couldn't help but feel frustrated. Her Clan needed a break, a moment to breathe, but it seemed everything wasn't allowing it. Every time a fire was put out, a new one rose less than a mile away. She didn't want her Clan to be known as the Clan that couldn't handle themselves - but, unfortunately, they were going down that path.

"Solaris Kingdom! It's time for our meeting," her tail twitched as she sat down, her smile neglecting her for a few moments while she waited. She usually had these things planned, her teeth glimmering in the sunlight and her mind full and ready to take on the onslaught of odd and pitiful looks. But she wasn't this time. She didn't have the time to prepare, "Welcome to our newcomer, LOLA . She's already completed her trial and secured her new loyalties within the Clan, and as such is a full Solarian like the rest of you." Sangria sought out the woman among the crowd, offering her a half smile, hoping to seem encouraging. "I'd like to remind everyone of the Guilds to participate in. In addition, we do need someone to hold weekly tasks this coming week."

A pause. It was instinctual, at this point, but not necessarily needed, " JUNEBUG A.W. has decided to step down from his position as a Sunguard, and ti'ha is unfortunately demoted. ROMANI , TAMA , and kaede t.m. all receive warnings. OSIRIS and magnolia mae may step up as Sunchasers, and FORSYTHIA . and rebelred. can step up as Sunguards. KIRSCHE and Kirusha A.T. can step up as Trailblazers." Two, two, and two. She hoped she and Meenah could still make the right decisions, though she fretted over giving her own children promotions, especially after what happened recently, "We're still on the search for lavinia ! - Meenah is going to head to a few allies, so if anyone wants to help out, please say so now. Shout outs, otherwise, to JULIAN. , LOLA , JOHNNY J. , and perses ."

Okay, this was the harder part. Her tail twitched, "Due to recent captures, Meenah and I are instating a stay-in-place for children and young apprentices. Please do not wander far from camp without a partner or buddy - if you must leave the territory, be sure to tell an adult before you do." Calina would have her throat if Kirusha went missing, just as she almost had her teeth around the fools who stolen her children. Her fur ruffled at the reminders of chaos before flattening again, "That said, Demeter and Kirsche have been returned to us without the need for a fight. We will not instigate either Clan, for our safety is more important than revenge. That said, no Ruiner or Exiler is allowed in the territory; question them on the borders if they come."

Sangria glanced back at Meenah briefly, before turning to the Clan again, "We do have a bit going on around camp - Kirsche is hosting a sandcastle contest, and Forsythia is hosting a party for the kids of our Clan along with the children of others," her smile was back now, for a little while longer, "Raeliana is taking her much needed break by the beach, and Jules is joining some guilds! We also have the Cartel selling us their wares and both a Coven and Haven parties to attend. I hope to see your faces at each event and spot. If we want to brighten up the Clan any, we should be doing are best to get around." A nod, before taking her step back and allowing Meenah to step forward.

[ mobile, sorry! ]

Sangria honestly had no issue with the Coven - due to the general disconnect (and perhaps respect) of politics, it had never reached her that a Covener was the one to have mortally wounded her mother and pushed her into hiding. All she saw of the Coven was an old flame and her brother's boyfriend's second home. Maybe she should acknowledge them as something more, but it was hard when events and visits were far and few between. But, it seemed they were getting better! She could at least pride them in that.

"You'll have to attend a party or two when you're the Dawningcrown, Rae," she murmured to her friend as the other passed, finding a spot soon after beside her son, ignoring her mother's vaguely hostile stance, "We'll be there," she eventually said to Video, a gentle smile on her face.

[ mobile!!!!! ]

Sangria enjoyed when her Clanmates utilized the Guilds they offered. She couldn't for sure answer the question as to why they had Guilds - they were put in place before her, before Ver and before Ver's predecessor, even. It was just another tradition to uphold in the Queen's eyes, and she was grateful when it was upheld by others, too. She joined her cousin in greeting her nephew, rolling his Guild choices around in her head. Artistry felt like a given for the skillful boy, but Warfare was less so, "For the Guilds, its usually a free entry," she spoke to Kirusha, "But it'd be a little fun if you had to spar to get into the Warfare Guild, wouldn't it? Or hold your own party for the Commune Guild," she mused. Her tail twitched once before she turned her gaze onto Julian, "Nonetheless, I'm sure "ICARUS" and MEENAH // will enjoy having extra paws to help out." The Guild Heads always seemed to have their paws full, at least to Sangria.

[ mobile! ]

"Raeliana," spoken like an exasperated and exhausted mother, Sangria had to turn on her heels to make her way back to Lola and the others. Meenah seemed to be handling it, and in a moment of selfishness, Sangria didn't want to be there for it. She had nothing against Lola, certainly not now, now that her children had returned home safely. But it was just that - the Queen didn't want to be a Queen in the moment. She wanted to be a mother, clutching her children as close as she could. Such wouldn't be possible however, as it seemed Raeliana wanted to make a fool of their newest Solarian.

Her shoulder knocked into Rae's leg as she arrived, her nose scrunching up, "I'll have you doing some odd chicken dance, see how it makes you feel," the young Queen jested, for the most part, before turning to Lola and assessing the matter for what it was. She heard through rumors and friends that the situation was resolved through heated words, the lioness's children watching with disbelief and confusion. Sangria never intended to break hearts by sending Lola in her stead - but it seemed to be what happened.

"Thank you, Lola," she murmured, her smile softening but not leaving, "I'm sure visiting the Ruins so soon on such... matters, wasn't easy. But it shows strength. And we're grateful to have that strength here," she doubted her words would mean much, but she said them just in case. To save face, even, "If you have any questions, do ask, alright? It's still a long journey ahead of you to rid yourself of your anti-Clan roots. Johnny's doing the same; maybe you could talk with him." She never expected either to flip on a dime and become used to the simpler life of the Kingdom (as simple as it could be.) But she could hope they'd get there eventually.

Sangria found a spot by her family, leaning partially onto Johnny, "Why don't we have a story-time?" she asked, "I'm sure the kids will enjoy it."

[ mobile ghsnfkwnfjifjsjes ]

Sangria was young like Forsythia once - to say so in such a manner made her feel old, when in truth she was still younger than a good few in Solaris. But she had been a pawn in another's game before. A puzzle piece that didn't fit right in. She often thought this phase of her life was when she still regarded herself a political doll - when she moved from the Ruins to the Kingdom and had to uphold her values as a pro-Clan princess, rather than the bloodthirsty warlord's daughter that they initially raised her to be. Pieces of that life were locked away long ago, though that didn't mean Sangria didn't think of them. But no - the truth was that Sangria was more of a pawn early into her apprenticeship. When a man played with her trust and tore her to shreds - when her crown was shattered like the mirror was.

Like Ver, Sangria arrived as quickly as she could, the fur over her shoulders and back spiked involuntarily. By the time she was able to calm herself, Ver was sweeping up the broken and scattered glass. Sangria took up her job as a mother and made her way towards her hurting child, pressing her nose to Forsythia's temple for a few moments. "Baby, it's okay," she murmured softly, though she knew Syth wasn't in visual distress. Sangria knew that sometimes her daughter needed the encouragement, even if she didnt seem like she did, "We'll get the mirror out so it doesn't hurt you," she promised soon after.

"No, Lola," Sangria laughed, "We're just bad at telling stories."

Sangria often gave out tasks that were reliant on the past and recent events - it was no secret that she used her power in the Clan to push others to do better for themselves, even if they didn't wish to. Magnolia wasn't such a case. The girl seemed eager to grow passed her past and become something better, to rehabilitate herself through any and all means necessary. And Sangria could say that her daughter had enough strength to push over a horse, since she was doing her best to continue to smile and be true to her values. Sangria still could only imagine the sort of fear she felt when encountering men like the one she did. She hoped that her darling child would some day grow past it all, with or without her meddaling.

"Meenah will love these, darling," Sangria chirped as she joined the small group. The bouquets were more than enough - gorgeous in every way. She was her father's daughter, even if she didn't know much about flowers aside from their names. Junebug would be just as proud, if not moreso, to see Magnolia's arrangements.

"And what do you need a weapon for, baby?" Sangria was a little late to the border party, but arrived in time to hear one of her younger children question Ilya (she hadn't seen the boy in a while,) about weapons. She was wary, as any mother was, with the idea of her young toddlers walking around with anything more damaging than a stick. But given recent events, like Kirsche's capture and Magnolia's unfortunate encounter, she guessed she could understand why Perses may be insistent on a blade of some sort. Her ears twitched as she recalled the dagger she had given to Namjoon for him to practice with, "Do you have anything duller, perhaps? I know its not a usual request, but it's safer for aspiring little swordsmen," her tail curled around her darling son, hoping the Cartellians would have something.

Sangria arrived after the others, ears perked, "Cade, Dear Helios, what happened to you?" the mention of a festival was overlooked for the moment as she settled in beside her Duskbreaker, ears pinned back. He looked worse for wear, at most, but she couldn't resist wanting to nag him for coming all this way with his injuries. She knew he was a fair bit older than her, but that didn't stop her nagging instinct, now did it? Vinko's one word question reminded her of the visit's purpose - or, at least, some of it, "You can go if you want, Vin. I'm sure Raeliana can take you," and the woman can then bond with the kids in a similar situation to hers.

The malice in her daughter's voice was amplified with each and every utterance of 'hate'. Her refusal to define what made tolerating Johnny difficult came out similarly, pent up frustrations lingering in every syllable. Sangria couldn't help the hurt that trailed through her heart - it was certainly unfair, to both Demeter and to Johnny, but the young mother couldn't help but wonder if she was allowed to consider it unfair for herself, too. After all, she was forced into this situation. Forced to be a mediator she wasn't. Forced to pick a side when they should all be working together.

"Demeter, I shouldn't have to explain biology to you. They're his kittens, because that is how things work. Marriage -" the word sit oddly on her tongue as she never considered making Junebug her consort synonymous with making him her husband - "doesn't dictate who fathers kittens. And he's in my life because I want him to be, Emi. I'm not being forced in this position, neither is he, and neither are you." Her voice hitched in her throat as she made a few steps closer towards her daughter, limbs itching with discomfort. She almost wished Demeter was like Syth or Maggie - blindly accepting things as they came. But more of her appreciated Demeter's defiant attitude, even though it was against her.

"Johnny doesn't expect everything to be okay. Have you spoken to him? I'm sure if you two talk and set boundaries, everything will be... easier." Sangria reached out to try and hold her angry daughter, though her own frustrations bubbled in her chest. She'd never call her children stupid, but she sure did wish Emi had made this easier for them all, "I'm sorry for thrusting this situation onto you, but nothing can change."

There was a sense of pity and guilt that balled up in Sangria's gut. In her blind fear and rage, she hadn't considered the pain that Bellona would've gone through, returning to the Ruins as soon as she did. She had heard from the others how Elian yelled at her, how it was just a mess, how it was chaotic - how it seemed that Elian didn't share the full story. Sangria didn't dare ask herself if she would've requested something different of Bellona, should she have considered this as an outcome. She feared coming to a rotten conclusion.

"Bellona?" her tail twitched as she sought out the woman, "Let's go on a walk to the beach. It'll do us both some good, yeah?"

LOLA

"Syth, don't -" her daughter was forced into a snort-laugh before Sangria could hoist her above the water again. A pained sigh came from the young mother as she held out one of her wings, offering it for her daughter to hold onto, "You're okay, you're alright," she tried to soothe the other, carefully using her declawed paw to brush away any stubborn gunk from her limbs, moving towards her muzzle. It hurt to see Forsythia like this, all burnt up, forced to laugh instead of breathe through the pain. Her shoulders shook with her sighs, "You're still beautiful, Sythie," she mused softly, pressing a soft kiss to the girl's forehead.

What would she pay for the boy's ignorance? For the life of being only concerned with one's immediate family and baring respect in others simply because they held authority? Sangria would be jealous, almost, though she knew her experience (however how minimal) was valuable. She wouldn't be where she was if not for the situations she went through. She could only hope that Vinko and his siblings weren't struck too similarly as herself or their mother. That would be a tragedy.

"I was thinking the beach, if you want. We can pick up sea shells and make little charms," she led the way for the stoic little boy, "I'm sure your father would like something handmade from you."