[ P ] A Sign Of The Times

WITH TEETH,

Chelsea didn't wander far from her guild that often, not out of fear, but because she had nothing to do when away. The woman had no immediate family or friends to speak of. After the passing of her parents, she became a recluse. Frankly, this year had been terrible for her, and it wasn't over yet.

Joining the Imperial Army was a choice that she made on a whim, in hopes of honoring her parents' memories. The hours were long and laborious, but Chelsea wouldn't dare complain or second-guess her decision. It was a privilege to serve her country, and as a Royalist through and through, that had to be her priority. If only it didn't make her so miserable.

It was a wonder that despite her tight schedule, the young woman found time to take a break, and visit the Glass Beach. Although it wasn't far at all, since she came from Yorkshire. Having grown up a Mainlander with military parents, no area in the Mainlands was a new discovery to her. Although, as a girl, visiting the Glass Beaches was a treat. She always loved the waves and cliff views. The tide pools let off such an earthy scent and oftentimes had interesting aquatic life blooming in it. Chelsea was ankle deep in the water, curiously staring at her own reflection. She wasn't one for imagination — Rumi Princeton would never entertain her colorful dreams — but she liked to think that if she looked long and hard enough, something magical would happen.


@ for ev <3

haricott amare
seven of swords

It's funny; the way that the Highlanders and Mainlanders dislike each other so much - yet Haricott often found herself in the Mainland, whether it was hunting or coming to the market. She hated it, for the most part. It was beautiful, and that was what she hated about it. How much she was supposed to dislike everything about it. Because of the wolves that inhabited it, and the fact that the Army had set themselves up in Yorkshire. It would have been such a plentiful forest to hunt in if they weren't making a racket all the time. Hari had found ways to use it to her advantage when she was hunting, waiting for them to drive all the prey to the borders with their marching orders - hundreds of them with heavy-set paws. The smell of the ocean washes in and out of the tidepools that she often never visits. The beach is an odd place to her. She'd been raised in greenery, surrounded by mists and the dancing shadows; that they all knew were Fae, waiting for stray pups. The abundance of water, washing waves that could snatch any wolf that went too far out. The stench of salt-water that she associated with the fishermen who brought their smelly fish to market. Haricott had always avoided them; they smelt. The only time she ever ate fish had been the one time she'd gotten so sick, that she couldn't get up the next morning. So, why was she here? She had just been walking. Sometimes, she walked so far, only living in her mind and letting her body go on auto-pilot. She didn't know what had knocked the desire to go hunting out of her this morning; but here she was.

Golden beaches, unlike the one the Tavern was on. The sun reflected off of the sand, making her lime eyes squint and walk a little more carefully. It was harder to see after all. She stood near one of the tide pools, small fish caught within some of them and others, nothing but rocks and shells. The teenager started into one, before getting caught up by another scent - the scent of Yorkshire. She knew it well; big roots underneath her paws, places to hide when the Army went by. Her eyes fall to another who is also on the beach. She smells like the greenery and her muscles are set, toned and ready to go whenever. She could easily be a soldier, or maybe another hunter; though she's never seen her at market. Haricott doesn't make her way too close, but obviously has made no caution in the fact she was staring, eyes squinted through the sun, and trying to determine what she was. She usually didn't let her masks come off, focused on keeping a persona for those who might get too close. Maybe it was the way her mind was on auto-pilot, she wasn't even really thinking of her masks, but just natural instincts. The ghastly white teen takes a few more steps forward, sniffing the air before her gaze finally tears back to one of the pools. Knuckles held tight, if she was an Imperial Army soldier, hopefully she'd just keep to herself and not act as if she was trying to help everyone - thinking she's the better of peace on the Royalists side. Hari's narrowed face was tense, lips pulled firm, as she started to side step towards the other end fo the beach.

code by claerie


@Chelsea

WITH TEETH,

It could've been her strict training that tipped her off, or a twitch in the more beastial part of Chelsea's brain that made her glance over. At first, her eyes squinted, — the sun was unforgiving as it shone off the stranger's pale coat — then she wagged her tail in greeting, before she paused. There was a level of caution that she always had when meeting new wolves, but she was understandably lonely. The Imperial Army wasn't a place to make friends, and growing up an only child, she was isolated in Yorkshire. Only, this teen was definitely not looking to be friendly.

The stranger stepped away from her, and Chelsea silently clicked her tongue. Their body looked tight with tension. Her nostrils were only filled with the scent of salt water and aquatic life — from this distance, she couldn't smell them well. "I'm sorry, did I interrupt you?" Chelsea said politely, a stiff smile on her lips. She had no intentions to leave, but civilities mattered. Her body tightened, it would be a terrible end to her afternoon if she caused trouble with the local civilians.

@Haricott

haricott amare
seven of swords

The soft tide of the ocean could have calmed anyone who just sat and listened. Pulling in and out, rushing across the beach in a reach to fill the tidepools once more. Haricott stood close to one of the ones that was filled by the rushing ocean. The salty breeze started to clog her senses, her nose being infiltrated by it's scent. It was hard to ignore. She couldn't imagine trying to fish or eat fish. How could anyone focus with this sort of smell? That had been one of the reasons that Haricott could never stomach anything from the sea. Whether it be fish, seaweed, or shells that her mothers brought home thinking their children might like the shapes of them. Anything from the ocean was always tainted with the smell of sea-life. Decayed and sun-dried. Haricott was almost caught up within the beach, if her muscles hadn't been tensed and on edge because of her own beliefs. Of her own fears. Whether she admitted that it was a fear or not. Anger also festered within her for the mere thought of it being fear that might control how she felt. She looked off into the sea, trying to be captivated by it, even for a mere moment, to be soothed. But, her brain drove her to be within the moment, no matter how much of her it might have revealed to the stranger.

The woman's voice, from farther off than Haricott might have thought, or maybe it was just the noisy ocean getting in the way of her question; but the huntress' ears catch it. Jade eyes return back to the woman; "No," She held back any "not at all." She paused, then gave a smile; thought it didn't come off as friendly nor angered, "Just enjoying the beach." She lied through her teeth but none of her features indicated it, after all, it wasn't like it was a huge lie. She enjoyed it... trying to imagine her mothers here on a date or just walking the beach to get away fro a little while. Maybe a storm had been what happened to them. She peered over the woman, "Mainlander?" Her accent was thick, thick enough for any native to know what Haricott was. Though she never truly tried to hide it. A mask from the past or one unmade up maybe would have adapted some sort of other accent, to keep her identity protected, but not now. She was just, simply, a Highlander.

code by claerie


@Chelsea