Loxley sat quietly in his little glade. He had already moved in with his dreaded new wife. He never wanted this, all his life he had thought he would end up with another unseelie fae woman. Or man, whichever came first really. Now here he is, stuck with that goodie two shoes girl.

Lux crouched dow next to the dark water, almost swamp-like except for how clean it was. The castle they had been chosen to live in had two separate sections on either side of it to suit their regular landscapes. He came from a darker realm than she did, so every time he crossed onto her side it was like being blinded by the sun even when she said it was 'low light'. What a liar.

There was a little light that trickled in through the overbearing weeping willow tree leaves. It was serene, if you had the eyes for it. The lake at home was huge, but here it was just a small pond. He had two swans at home, his companions, Arabella and Ivory. He was still grumpy about the fact he hadn't been allowed to take them with him but oh well.

With a flick of his wrist Loxley pulled up two imitations of his companions. It wasn't the same and they would disappear once he wanted them to or lost focus but it would do for now. He leaned forward, reaching out to pet the mimicry of Arabella.

"Save me," Loxley murmured as he caressed her feathers, talking to himself while pretending it was to her. "It's only my first week here, and it's already painful. I thought I was supposed to bring the fear and torture, and she doesn't seem to realize how insufferable I find her very existence in my space."

To say that Aurelia was pleased with her new marriage would be a grave wrong. She tolerated Loxley at best, but she was at least trying to be at peace with all of his doom and gloom and darkness. It was no easier for her, whether he wanted to accept that or not. He was irritating a brooding, and everything she never expected herself to marry. There were plenty of good, seelie suitors that would have been just fine for her, but of course, the court would always take advantage of an alliance wherever they could. Ugh.

She strode through her wing of the castle, the brightness no where near as strong as she would have liked it to be. It almost felt.. cold, but not quite yet solemn. She missed that intoxicating warmth and lush greenery brightening up every area. She missed the endless color and being able to walk outside to see Fintan, her white stag that she had raised since his birth. Alas, she had been unable to bring him to her new home, just as her husband had been denied his swans. Only, for her Fintan wasn't but a half a day's ride away at her parent's estate, but she detested the distance all the same.

The longer that Aurelia walked, the darker and colder things seemed to grow, her featherlight steps silent against the stone beneath her feet. She could have scoffed as she heard her husband's words, her slender arms crossing delicately over her chest as soft blonde curls cascaded down her shoulders and back. "Perhaps, dearest, you should try harder to bring said fear and torture into my life so that I find you insufferable enough to no longer try to make whatever this is work," she broke her silence, her tone buttery soft for the biting nature of her words. She knew that he did not like her, and the feeling was quite mutual, but at least one of them was trying to ease the constantly growing tension and space between them.

"Not a second of peace." Loxley sighed. He had thought he was alone for the most part, even though she could cross into his side whenever she wished. He wasn't used to her yet, randomly appearing in his domain like teleportation when in reality she probably just walked very lightly.

"Oh believe me, all the trepidation will come in due time. I'm just unfortunately on a timer, much like you must be." He muttered, pulling back from the water and tilting his head to face where she stood. Arabella disappeared like the wind while Ivory flickered for a second before vanishing as well as a consequence of Lux's distraction.

Loxley placed his hands on his thighs and pushed himself up to full height. He stood at an imposing six foot tall. It was a good height for the high fae lineage, but it also meant he ran the risk of whacking his head on doorframes and branches if he wasn't aware enough.

He moved swiftly and gracefully in his own domain, managing to get beside her in a matter of seconds. He wasn't yet in the bright lights of her side of the castle but his eyes narrowed anyway when he looked at her. Something about her... being just seemed to irritate him. Even when she wasn't actively shining shards of sun into his retinas, it still felt like she was a candle in the deep dark.

"Is there something you need, darling?" Loxley purred, his voice smooth as melting butter and yet somehow still dripping with venom at her very presence. "Or did you just come to mock me?"

Aurelia emitted a subtle warmth around her, the air more suitable to what she was used to compared to the darker, cooler space that Loxley seemed to enjoy. She could have brought her light too, the magic simple enough to produce, but she wouldn't want him darkening her space, so she refused to brighten his own. The cold was too much, though, her body much more accustomed to the heat and comforting, warm temperatures of summer and spring.

Chuckling lightly at his words about timers and trepidation, she waved the thought away, knowing plenty would come for the both of them in due time. But for now, they were expected to make their new marriage work. They were expected to save their two courts, to bring unity and peace throughout their people. Would it be easy? Of course not. But did Aurelia intend to fail? No, hence her current presence in his domain.

Aurelia held her ground as he approached to her side, his height towering her own. She was small for a high fae, her head only reaching a couple of inches over five foot. A runt, she had once been called, but she more than made up for her height with personality and intoxicating sweetness. A smile curved up the corner of her plump, rosy lips as his eyes narrowed upon her as they always did, her arms shifting to rest at her sides now that she had his attention. It was so easy to rile the poor man up.. gods, and he probably thought her a sweet and innocent little thing.

Her chin tilted slightly upwards, her bright blue gaze roaming over the features of his face in the shadows. They suited him more than her bright rays of sun, but that did make sense.. Aurelia produced a faux pout at his venomous words and even managed a quiet huff as her finger tips trailed across his chest and over his upper arm before her touch disappeared as she circled him for no reason more than pure want to. "What, a woman can't decide she wants to spend time with her husband?" She taunted, seemingly leaning towards the latter as she returned to his side. "Yes, love, there is something I need. My parents unfortunately wish for us to attend a party in honor of us at the Seelie court. I thought you might like to be prepared," she informed him, returning the sickly sweet venom with a perfect smile.

“Mm.” Loxley huffed. It was a short, quick noise of annoyance and irritation at the very idea of attending a party. The Unseelie Court wasn’t exactly known for such trivialities. Of course, they did have some celebrations here and there but it was much more along the lines of a witchcraft ritual dancing around a bonfire during the winter solstice than whatever tea parties the Seelie likely threw.

He could only imagine what their opulent castle looked like. He had been once, but that was quite a while ago and since he had purged all those memories from his brain. All he remembered was maybe some glass and a copious amount of sunshine. He tried his best to keep his composure as she circled him but he couldn’t help tensing at her touch. It wasn’t commonplace for the Unseelie to interact with each other through touch, since the majority of their kind viewed it as a rather bizarre way to show affection. Unless, of course… you were using it as a mockery of endearment.

“The Seelie Court,” Lux murmured, his tone mixing thought with exasperation. Nothing good could come of this, for his side. He knew it would be good for their purposes, their image of uniting both courts. But gods, nothing could be more unendurable than spending a day or two in her land.

“I suppose I should consider myself blessed by the gods for having such a caring wife, shouldn’t I?” Loxley followed Aurelia with his eyes, dipping down to her rose-coloured lips a few times in a way he hoped was subtle, already putting on a polite tone like he would need to later on. He just couldn’t stop the bite in his voice hidden behind the effortless words because they both knew just how displeased he would be during this little arrangement.

“When is this suggested party? Should I be picking out my clothes already?” He mused, already imagining what sort of angelic and light outfits she could torture him with before they left. She would have to advise him on what was typically worn in her court, since he doubted they’d let him in with his usual. And even if they did, she might take the chance either way to further his torture. Loxley would never get used to the ‘nice’ fae, he would always be expecting some sort of knife in the back from everyone. This would be a soft blade if she took the opportunity, but a skewer to him nonetheless.

Aurelia could only imagine how out of place that her unseelie counter part would feel in such a place. It wouldn't help that they'd be expected to act as some perfect, harmonious couple, when they so obviously were not. She could put on a mask as she always did for such parties, but could he? Better yet, would he? After all, she had troubled and annoyed him enough to give him plenty of reason to deny civility. It would be a long, frivolous event she was sure, and even she dreaded it. It was easier to simply remain home in their separate wings of the castle rather than be a trophy pair for the kingdom to see.

"Whether or not you feel blessed is up to you," she hummed, her eyes glued to his face, though a hint of a smirk curled at the corner of her lips at the way his eyes seemed to roam once. "I merely thought you'd like the soonest warning I could give you, considering there isn't much time before our departure would be needed," she told him, knowing they'd both need time to prepare theirselves for what was expected. She had never minded parties, especially when she could attend them as she pleased and talk to whomever she saw fit, but now, she knew that there would be certain high members of the court watching their every move, judging and criticizing them.

"Unfortunately, we would need to leave tomorrow night at the latest. The party would be the following evening. So yes~ I would begin picking out my clothes if I were you. I mean, unless you'd like for me to dress you?" She mused, a mischievous glint shining in her eyes. She could indeed torture him with the style of the seelie fae, but she wouldn't. Not completely, of course. She'd stick to darker palettes for his sake, though perhaps she'd opt for a smoother, shimmerier fabric that many chose to wear. But, so long as he would wear proper attire, she cared not what he chose to wear. After all, their union was not about making him appear seelie, but to show that they could coexist as theirselves.

"All I ask is that you come ready to put on a show for those old birds of the court. I'm no happier than you are, but it would seem that we're being forced to 'fake it until we make it.' Otherwise that timer of ours might get much shorter," she shook her head, resisting the urge to let a scoff escape. Without a doubt, this party was to see how the couple fared together, not to honor their union.

“Tomorrow night,” Loxley repeated. His voice seemed almost as if he had to bite back a growl beneath the calm words. He enjoyed more planning to it, and although it was enough time to somewhat plan what to wear and all that, it was not nearly enough time to get ready to act among an audience. It was the perfect amount of time for her to almost get him mad about something so trivial. “I can dress myself, thank you for the offer.”

“Besides, I wouldn’t look as good dressed as a blossom as you might.” Lux hummed, making it sound as if he were talking to himself instead of both complimenting and insulting her court in the same breath. He most definitely was going to wear something dark since she didn’t explicitly say he couldn’t. And no amount of bribery could ever stop him from taking jabs at the other court, especially because he would be spending some time there soon. Better to get it out of his system now quietly than risk letting it out later on at the party.

A small smirk formed on his lips when he had quite a fun idea pop into his head. She wasn’t taking the chance to pain him as he had thought, which really showed how much their court were said to be kind. However his court was not one to make such a mistake, they would always pounce where they had the opportunity. They were definitely the ones with the reputation for cruelty and tricksters. He let his eyes roam over her body, putting on the guise of thinking.

“If I am not to wear your court’s attire, what better way to show the union is progressing nicely than to wear something from my own court?” Loxley suggested, smooth and soft as ever with a tiny hint of poison in his voice just like there would always be. Although this time, it sounded a little more playful. Like he enjoyed turning the tables in whatever way he could manage.

“You would look absolutely ravishing in something elegant and refined. You would look important for once.” Loxley smiled down at her like it was a praise, all the while implying not so subtly that in her regular Seelie court fashion she didn’t look noble or of high rank. In his own court, this would definitely be true.

Aurelia chuckled, having expected he'd take the opportunity to dress himself. Whether he believed it or not, she did want him to feel comfortable in the least. "I think you underestimate yourself~ while I do like this tall, dark, and.. handsome thing going for you, I bet you'd absolutely shine in something of my choosing," she teased, but truthfully, it would take her a little thinking to ensure that something from her court would suit him properly. If she could even work such miracles. Men's garb wasn't her forte anyways. She was much better off with the feminine side of things.

Picking up on the way his eyes roamed her body, Aurelia gave him a curious look, her own gaze flicking up and down his own. She had a tingling feeling down her spine, one she couldn't quite work out while he watched her in what almost had felt like a predatory gaze. Did he have something up his sleeve? Was he simply taking advantage of the sight of her? Was he only shooting to get under her skin? And was it working? She let out a quiet huff before averting her gaze from him, taking a quiet, deep breath to calm the mood he was starting to put her in. His suggestion, however, had her gaze snapping right back up to his. He definitely was plotting.

He wasn't wrong. The little seelie princess in something of her husband's desire would look rather good to the court, but there was also a good chance he made a fool of her. It was no matter. She could always have a backup gown in the case of that. It was the words that followed that had her caught even more off guard, her breath hitching quietly in her throat as a bit of red flush crept up her neck. "I assure you that no matter my appearance, I'll always look important in the Seelie court," she told him, a hint of annoyance ticking in her voice as she dared to step closer, wholly invading his space.

"But.. if ravishing is what you'd like, then by all means, dress me however you desire." Her fingers reached out, curling around the fabric of his shirt to lower him slightly to her level, their faces mere inches apart. It would seem he was starting to get under her soft skin, but as far as she was concerned, her battle had only just begun. "Mind you, we're to put on a show.. So why not make it positively mouthdropping," she purred, her eyes locked to his in a challenge she didn't intend to back down from. She released him from her grasp, her chin tilting up a fraction as she waited for his response, fire burning in her soul.

“I’m glad you agree, mo ghràdh.” Loxley grinned. Even as close as she brought him, which was admittedly uncomfortable to his specific type of creature, didn’t faze him as much as it typically would should anyone else do such bold actions. He thought for a long second after he was released from her hold, straightening back up to his full imposing height.

“I’m sure you’ve never even tasted proper fashion before.” He mused, and with a flick of his wrist he pulled up another hallucination. This time instead of his prized swans, it was a dress. It wouldn’t last very long, just enough time to see it and however long he wanted to maintain the mimicry of fabric. Every texture and sight was pulled straight from memory, only things he had seen and felt back in his own court most likely from previous shopping trips.

The first option to flicker into existence was clearly an attempt to appeal to the Seelie side, a small gesture showing he wasn’t entirely heartless. It was a very dark green shade, though not unappealing. It had very smooth and elegant fabrics, but it was short. The flowy, light skirt would probably stop just before her knees or right at them. It was divided at the waistline with a small bit of triangular material in a dark shade that could pass for black even though it was tinted green like everything else.

The second option was definitely more like his own court. It was also very clearly his favourite given the smile across his face when he held the illusion in his palm before fully materializing it. He wasn’t going to just needlessly spend magical energy before she picked a choice. It was entirely black fabric, the dress splitting down the sides to expose her thighs. It would most likely be paired with high boots of some sort, but the shoes could be chosen later. From the waist up the dress was decorated with a material that imitated pearls.

“So, which one would you rather, darling?” Loxley prompted. “Accessories and shoes can come afterwards. No outfit can be left undone, but dress first.”