Sloane shrugged, giving the flower one last glance before tucking it behind her ear, as she'd often seen mortals do, "It's not a... widely talked about custom of ours, so it makes sense that you didn't know."

In Sloane's peripheral vision, she noticed Fallon's wince, and turned more fully to face the head guard, adopting a lighter tone, although 'lighter' really meant less murder-y, "Seriously, though - don't be sorry. It is a pretty flower, and I appreciate the gift. If you take away my own experiences with flowers, this is a very kind gesture."

Although Sloane had seemed more than reluctant to take the flower at first, she seemed to accept it after Fallon's apology and proceeded to tuck it behind her ear. A sigh of relief slid through her lips, she hadn't meant to offend Sloane at all, quite the opposite. She was lucky that Sloane seemed to be quite understanding despite her outward persona. Hopefully, she'd find the gesture even the slightest bit romantic now that Fallon had explained herself.

"That's good then, I meant no ill will, quite the opposite really. I'll be sure to remember this for next time." Fallon didn't expand on her words, instead, she continued along with the conversation. "Would you like to check out other stalls now? I promise there won't be any more flowers." Fallon grinned, trying her best to lighten the mood.

Sloane gave Fallon a wry grin, "As long as there are no more flowers, then sure. You lead the way - I'm not looking for anything specific."

The silence lasted a heartbeat longer, before Sloane snapped her fingers in quick succession as she remembered something, "Oh! Actually, I am looking for something. Do you have any potion-masters around? Or herb-gatherers that specialize in rarer plants? I'm here on a trip to get some herbs, and I would prefer not to have to cross a large majority of Hell in order to find them."

The master that Sloane knew of was far away, according to what Kanu had said, and in the middle of a very war-torn area. It would be better if there was a more local master around.

It pleased Fallon to see Sloane was even in the slightest bit humored by her joke, although she gave no outward sign of it she was a bit worried to mess this up.

Sloane was hot and also seemed to be of the decent sort. Fallon could only hope that Kanu's horrible flirting skills hadn't rubbed off on her over the years and that she was doing a decent job woo-ing Sloane.

At Sloane's question, Fallon furrowed her brows and seemed to give the question thought. "Well," Fallon began, "we have a few potion specialists here but the only true potion master is here very rarely. I don't believe he's here at this very moment but we can visit a few of the specialists still if you want." Fallon looked around the town square, eyeing the shops, ignoring the people who parted the way for her.

"To be honest the only true potion master is near the capital, and Princess Rue is excellent as well." The name Rue seemed to bring a small smile to Fallon's face. There were pleasant memories associated with the princess for sure, and the respect was there as well. Quite unlike Kanu, whose name she never said fondly.

Rue... "Oh - yes. I remember Princess Rue. She and my best friend seemed close the last time they met... Hmm..." Jydal had gushed about the youngest royal for a solid month after the meeting two years ago. The two had always had some sort of weird almost-flirting thing going on since as long as Sloane could remember, although Jydal swore up and down the only times they've ever meet had been in formal meetings between the two immortal nations.

If Sloane could talk to Kanu, then she could ask if his sister might have access to strong healing potions. Princess Rue might be willing to help if she knew her flirting-buddy was on his deathbed.

Alas - nothing could be done until Kanu got back from... wherever he was. Sloane honestly wasn't paying that much attention.

"I don't think any of the specialists will have what I'm looking for, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Besides, I don't have anywhere to be until Kanu gets back, and I.." Sloane wasn't ready to get vulnerable with a near-perfect stranger, and say that she liked spending time with Fallon. That was too deep for Sloane, "Don't mind hanging out with you." The last part was basically grumbled, and Sloane crossed her arms tightly. It was weird being emotionally honest with people. Sloane did not like it.

Sloane scrunched up her nose, not necessarily in disgust, but in genuine confusion, "You and Kanu? Damn. You're way too good for that dick - I dunno how he managed to pull you."

Sloane shrugged, looking Fallon over again as if she might suddenly spot the reason why anyone would ever date a man like Kanu.

It was bizarre to Sloane that someone would ever willingly date a man to begin with. They were nothing but burdens and disappointments - Sloane spoke from experience - and quite literally the most useless creatures to ever exist. Fallon was lightyears out of Kanu's league - a snail was even out of Kanu's league, though, so perhaps Fallon was even further away from him.

--

ts to meet up?

A soft chuckle escaped Fallon's lips and the nearby orb lights flickered with the gentle sound. "You are entirely right, but youth brings many fleeting fancies," she paused, "and idiocy of course." Another deep chuckle followed and Fallon couldn't help but smile at her current situation and the heavenly fairy beside her.

_________

The journey to Pes Idone ((i had to read through so much to find where they were going :,) )) did not take long, and when the duo arrived they were greeted by a special sight.

Kanu's tall form sat next to a lanky child, who looked to be only about 6 or 7 (though with the aging of immortal beings who knew how old he truly was). His skin was the same shimmery grey as Fallon's, and snuggled into his unruly black hair were the beginnings of black horns that closely resembled Kanu's.

The child gazed up adoringly at Kanu as the shifter threw out his arms, telling some story of his past heroics that had completely held the boy's attention. The picture of the two brought a small smile to Fallon's face, the kindest, truest one Sloane had seen yet. " That is our son, Riyon, the one I spoke of earlier. He is the only good thing that came out of my relationship with Kanu." Fallon's steps quickened as she approached the table where Kanu and Riyon sat, the boy carrying a steaming cup of hot chocolate in his bare hands with no sign of any pain from the heat.

"Ah, Fallon, Sloane, there you are. I was just telling Riyon about the time I had to fight my older sister for the throne." While Kanu and Riyon both smiled brightly, Fallon quite simply shook her head at the idea. Although it was a violent time, Riyon didn't have to hear of his father decimating his siblings in combat.

"Well that's lovely, but I do think it is time to leave. It is nearing Riyon's bedtime." The little boy huffed grumpily, attempting to fight back his own sleepiness, before setting his wide eyes on Sloane. "Woooww," Riyon stared wide-eyed at the heavenly being. "I've never seen a fairy before. You're so different, " the young boy stared in awe at the pretty lady, his mouth wide open in shock.

Sloane was a proud person - she could admit that with ease - which made owning up to her own faults all the more difficult. However, despite her egotistical nature and stubborn pride, Sloane would easily admit to herself (and only herself) that she was absolutely dreadful with children.
Between her own violent tendencies, loud voice, and threatening figure - very much unlike the dainty grace of the heavenly beings that populate the upper stratosphere - Sloane has frequently been called the "nightmare fuel" for the subjects of the upper kingdom. Particularly when it came to children. They much prefer the elegant grace of the lords and ladies of heaven - not a fairy who killed three royalty in a game of sport, earning the place of heir through the path of blood.

(It is in their nature, too. Sloane is not the exception - she is the majority - only she does not kid herself with calling their lust for blood anything other than its name. They may be called beings of light, but war and blood is in their nature, just as it in the kingdom's below. The only difference is that the heavenly kingdom hides their lust and greed behind thinly veiled etiquette and royal formalities.

The first overthrowing of a ruler was done through war.

The second was done as a challenge.

The third as sport.

Sloane is hardly the first to challenge the heavenly bloodline, nor will she be the last. One day, it will be her bloodline that will be challenged - whether by an outsider deeming her unfit, a power hungry ruler with strength to spare, or by her own heir - and it will be her who is killed and tossed aside for the place on the throne. The tragic nature of immortality and power is that it is so, so hard to step back once one has a taste.)

Still, Sloane supposes, looking into Riyon's wide eyes, she was revered among the children of the lower stratosphere, where dragons, ogres, angels, and fairy's roamed. Lower still in the atmosphere were the Wildlands, where flying beasts soared free and eager, ready to snap up any heavenly beings unlucky enough to fall that far. It was through Sloane's challenging of wild beasts and cruel community leaders that she gained this respect.

(Once again it was respect earned in blood. In the lower stratosphere, the lust for blood wasn't hidden behind political schemes and mechanisms.

Sloane enjoys the lower stratosphere. It was her birthplace, after all, before she climbed to the upper atmosphere with raw and trembling fingers, with wings nearly torn* off her back and a need for vengeance and change itching inside of her.)

Coming back to the issue at hand, Sloane is broken out of her musings. Being revered still doesn't mean that Sloane is good with children, and while Riyon may not fear her on sight, that doesn't mean that Sloane is any closer to knowing how to converse with him.

Not that that was going to stop her. As previously stated, Sloane is a prideful being, after all. No way was she going to back down from a challenge - even if the challenge was unspoken and in the form of a young boy.

"Yo," Sloane greeted, after what was probably far too long of staring, giving Riyon a casual two fingered salute.

(It was a safe gesture. Formalities and forbidden gestures had been driven into Sloane's head through hours of self-imposed studying of the customs and etiquette for all nations. If she was going to be the ruler of the Light Kingdom, it would do no good to offend potential allies with careless gestures. Nor would it be good to be utterly ignorant of worlds outside of her own - an issue the current leadership exemplifies.)

"I'm Sloane. Nice to meet you," Sloane didn't do anything to soothe her naturally deep voice, so while the words came out gruff, the carefully amused and intrigued expression on her face hopefully evened it out.

* through the miracles of "modern" tech, sloane was able to repair her wings to be functional again. ish. i will probably explain these later, but for now, lets sayyyy that no one has gotten a good look at her wings. i will leave that there

Riyon's carefree giggle interrupted Sloane's introduction, the boy did not care about any of the formalities some might expect from the son of a prince. Granted, Kanu would be the last one to teach his son such things and Fallon had no use for the exaggerated greetings of royalty. Their son had been raised far from the world of plots and schemes and the tedious introductions of royal courts and would continue to be raised away from that dangerous place until his father took the throne. After all, there was no use in raising him as a prince if there was no guarantee that he would be one. Besides, the royal court cared not for the bastards of nobility if they weren't claimed, and Kanu had yet to declare Riyon his own though everyone knew he was.

With a harsh glare from Fallon, Riyon ceased his giggling and smiled up at Sloane with childish innocence. "Well I'm Riyon, and you don't have to salute me. I'm not my mama." Riyon's little giggles snuck from his mouth and Fallon released an exasperated sigh. It was no use to explain to Riyon that Sloane was just being polite, he had no reason to understand the customs of royalty or heavenly beings. Not while he was safely tucked away here at least.
"Well, it's time to find a place to rest for now I suppose. The journey tomorrow will be long." Kanu released a heavy sigh as he began to stand, his chair screeching as he pushed it back. Riyon's lower lip stuck out as he began to pout, he always hated seeing his father leave, never knowing if he'd really see him again. With his royal duties, as well as the undercover ones, there was no telling if his father would live till tomorrow, let alone make it back to town.
"Well the inn is still open and Raya still owes you one so she'll let you guys rest there for free," Fallon pointed out as she scooped Riyon out of his chair as he grumbled angry little words about everyone always stealing his dad. Now, no longer enraptured by Sloane's uncommon appearance, he glared at her. "If you get my dad killed I won't forgive you okay?"