❂ maiden or maidenless? | estelle, shirayuki, nestor intro open ❂

❂ Taking small, erratic steps while almost dancing around in their miniature stark colored silk cloaks, the two sons of Estelle would remain confused about why they had to conceal their identities almost like movie ghosts- while they were big fans of scooby doo, they felt as though it would be better to be a part of the mystery inc than be one of the bad guys! But they didn't know a single thing about where they were going other than it would be extremely important for not only their prosperity in the war-ravaged world but also for the three dragons that sat upon their mother's shoulders. And how they needed to let their mother do all the talking tonight, because hours prior to their arrival on the road that would lead them to this supposed tavern of monkeys, they had been told frankly to shut up and stop asking so many questions.

"I have told you both countless times how important it is that you do not speak while wearing such attire- we are headed somewhere that may be quite dangerous, and though I cannot elaborate further, please do not ask any more questions. Our identities are concealed for a reason and I will not let either of you put our family in danger, no matter how young the both of you are. Do not make me have to remind either of you again," Estelle would speak to the two in their miniature cloaks quite sternly, causing one of the two to begin to form tears upon his upper cheeks.

If Estelle had the way she truly wished for, she would not have even had to bring her two sons with her while seeking out the guildhall of Plumed Serpent; it was uncommon for her to bring her sons along with her during work-related business, and though typically the work she would accomplish would deem her a hero in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of her children, tonight would mark a change in operation. It had been only about a day since she was drove out of the city of Lavanitir due to an unfortunate takeover, and though it was quite risky, she was successful in protecting her five children from having to be exposed to such traumatic events- but in her eyes, this still would not be enough. In the current status of the world, Estelle had found that it was quite difficult for her to steer clear of the overbearing darkness during her "retirement" from taking on missions to eradicate such individuals- she knew she would be able to resume in a year or two if she played her cards right in raising her three baby elder dragons, but for now, she would have to carry out plans that would cause her previous self to become, honestly, horrified. In her draconic eyes, what better way to avoid the danger of those dedicated to the darkness than to seek refuge in their ranks- not Divine Calamity, Abyssal Fleet, Errings Rising, or any of the dark guilds scattered between them, but the one that wished to conquer an ultimate power. She wished for that ultimate power to make its way to her dragons, and while small, she knew they would take after the great elder dragon she had commanded before their births. But she wanted them to be even stronger, despite the lengths she would have to go in order to acquire such a promise.

Estelle no longer felt a mental conflict regarding joining Plumed Serpent herself, but she certainly still felt such conflicts about her sons- tonight, they would leave the tavern bearing the same guild mark as she did if things were all executed according to plan, something that made her stomach churn just thinking about it. But there was no other way she could join otherwise- if the matron was seeking out the divine power Plumed Serpent knew so much about, her sun and her moon would need to become interwoven in the grand scheme as well, even if they would remain home, not accompanying her on the jobs she would carry out alongside her dragons. She hoped the guild mark sitting on the skin of her sons would cause the two to be protected even more than they already were. The matron did not care about her own safety but the safety of her children and would do anything to preserve that, and though it caused her to worry somewhat, she felt it would be the best move they could make within the world of war. As a family- they had to stick together, and though the three would bear aliases and disguises while operating within Plumed Serpent, she could not see their relationships meeting a fate of tarnishing even in the lowest of lows.

Raising one of the sleeves of her cloak to rest her hand on the eldest of her three baby elder dragons, Estelle would sigh, looking down the curved road that would eventually lead them to the guild of serpents. They still had a bit to go- she could tell, even under their cloaks, that her sons were getting rather antsy due to the rules their mother had set in place. And though they were alone now, anyone could be listening. Through the trees, through the bushes, or through magic the three could not even conceptualize. If their identities were released alongside their motives, the plan would fail and Estelle would have her family's name dragged through the dirt. She would not allow that.

wc: 950

Raising a hand to sit on the eldest of the three baby dragons that rode upon her shoulders, the cloaked ginger would feel a chill manifest upon her back as the first of the various strangers upon the dark and dreary road would approach her. It would seem as though upon her approach, which would be accompanied by a rather extensive load of what would presumably be her captives, an overbearing sense of magic would follow- Estelle would reach her other hand to motion her sons to stop in their tracks behind her, hoping that they would get the clue that the moment was soon approaching in which they would have to remain serious, cloaked in white with an overbearing veil of silence over their mouths. If they were even so to make a peep, it would be instantly that the matron of dragons would cause them to bite their tongue. But they knew just how serious their mother was about this sort of strange ordeal that their eccentric family of theirs found themselves within currently, causing them to be too scared of the consequences that would come from going against their mother's stern wishes. To the youngest of the two cloaked midgets, he felt as though if he did not remain quiet, there was a chance he could end up in cages just like those that were upon the stranger's wagon.

While the stranger's appearance appeared rather intimidating to the commandress of dragons, alongside her magical signature, the conviction of her voice would seem to make Estelle think otherwise of her presumptions. The stranger had invited the party of the cloaked dragon tamers to come alongside her in her wagon if they were in need of a ride, and while that would greatly benefit the three as their legs had been a bit sore from walking such great lengths, the matron felt as though not taking precautions while being presented with opportunities like these would steer her family into the wrong direction, even if they were headed to the same destination. However, before she was capable of giving a direct pass on the kind gesture, another figure would appear to approach the two on the side of the road leading to the tavern. It felt as though a crowd was forming around her and her sons, and though this other stranger would appear to also be headed to this tavern of drunken monkies, a mental note presented itself to Estelle as if she needed to keep her guard up just in case something were to go wrong with this set of new faces. Standing in silence as she would watch the individual state that they were in need of directions, her white cloak would flutter within the delicate gusts of wind that would trail throughout the curves of the road, her face remaining shrouded in the darkness under her hood. It was her first time delving into what could lead her to a life dedicated to darkness, which caused her to feel a bit paranoid about putting trust in others that could be looking to participate in similar ordeals.

"It seems that we are all headed to the same destination, as I am also on the way to the Drunken Monkey Tavern," the cloaked mistress would begin to speak to the two, her voice trailing out of the dark abyss under her hood with a calm yet deep demeanor, "if we take this road east, I believe that we shall reach the tavern quite soon."

Due to the overbearing feeling of paranoia seeping into her veins, the thought to respond to the woman leading the wagon's offer would escape Estelle's mind- things were occurring rather quickly now, unlike the long road that they had already ventured upon, and she still had her suspicions. Plumed Serpent would by all means be a group of individuals that would be targeted by those dedicated to preserving the goodness of the world- what if one of these strangers was one of those people, just as the matron had been prior to her temporary retirement? She could not help but be suspicious of the motives of these strangers, even if she knew nothing about any of them.

Out of the darkness, another set of two would appear to join the crowd on the side of the road, one of the two appearing to break into the ongoing conversation without hesitation. They would introduce themself as a celestial spirit, operating under a summoner that would already be at the destination the three were currently seeking out- alongside another that would presumably be of the same race as the previous being that was to speak, which would seem to be much less friendly than their accomplice. The pair's observation of the two felt, well, rather odd to Estelle, especially as they would address her adolescent Elder Dragons as simply lizards. Even if it was a bit offensive to the dragon tamer, she would let out a chuckle under her cloak in response to their sheer ignorance of the power that would come in the future from such rare, ancient reptilian beings and the implied skill she felt as though she had from raising such.

"My stars are much more significant than mere lizards, stranger," the cloaked dragoness would speak to the purple celestial briefly before turning to the other, "but no, I am not from the area and neither are the five that are accompanying me tonight. If your master is at the tavern all of us seem to be seeking out for the first time, I would not be obliged to have you lead the way, though I will not speak for those around me I do not know."

Estelle wished to remain calculated in what she would tell and not tell these strangers, as she had no clue of their motives and what they wished to come out of their visit to the tavern. After all, they all could simply be drunkard bargoers with no real purpose other than to drink the night away. But she wished to find Plumed Serpent and join their ranks under the guise of the cloaked draconic matron, however that may be. While her morals were still somewhat intact, she would go to great lengths to get this ultimate power she had heard so much about if she had to, as long as it meant her children were safe in her doing so. For now, however, she would sit in silence as she would wait to hear more of those that had approached her on the road's side of stone, her mortal children paralyzed in fear of the ongoing exchange.

post wc: 1,111
personal wc: 2,061
thread wc: 4,180