(( ** This is a literate human avatar based role play where the character you use is portrayed through your avatar design. http://subeta.net/forums/view/783080">Subeta rules apply as always. ** ))

The summer solstice had come and gone yet the festivities at Peka Glade would not cease for weeks to come. No one living in the Glade needed the solstice to tell them it was summer, the days were long, hot, borderline intolerable, and terribly humid in the shade of a tree or otherwise. It was so hot that during the summer months, as marked by the solstice, hardly anyone worked during the day at all. When they did emerge from their homes much of the townspeople wore next to nothing if they did choose to be clothed at all.

Shameless nudity was nothing out of the ordinary for the deer-people who called Peka Glade home. Being more closely related to the furry quadrupeds who also shared the land they saw little reason to cover themselves as carefully as humans, only really assuming a bit of modesty for royal affairs. ( Of which there were many. ) Even then it wasn't unexpected that at some point someone would grow tired of what they wore and would streak through the gala to the shouts and cheers of their peers. It was generally considered a dull affair if otherwise.

Far from the wandering eyes of the human world, scattered amongst the shale and travertine buildings that sprung from between ancient trees hung countless sun shaped lanterns, wooden sculptures, garlands and flags. Sun worship was not exactly the peoples doctrine but during the summer months they gave thanks for its blessings extravagantly just as they had since the founding of their hidden city. Once the seasonal crops had been planted, in order to better bask in the stars radiant glory, the people took holiday from their usual toils so that they could once again redefine their link with nature and soak in the beauty of their meticulously cultivated lands.

Few outsiders were welcome here, the land was protected by multiple governments inside and out. No trespassing would be an understatement to be sure. Peka Glade's inhabitants generally thought themselves superior to the human race and wanted little to do with them. Nature was a blessing and needed to be protected from people who sought to destroy, pollute and alter the land. Claiming the area sacred long ago it was petitioned that the Glade be dubbed a National Park and protected at all cost from human traffic. Sometimes for a few hours a day a handful of persons would be admitted but were limited to the marketplace and quickly ushered out thereafter.

The invitation had been extended during the Masquerade, but receiving one formally through the inter-stellar post had been something of a surprise for Kai. It had come at a good time, actually; the company he worked for was still dealing with the fallout that had occurred during the Masquerade. One of their top clients had cancelled an order, sparking off a chain reaction that the higher-up business-centric side of the company was scrambling desperately to get back under control. Add in that one of the unions from which the company hired from was undergoing a strike that didn't seem to have a resolution in sight, and it left Kai at loose ends.

It had, at least, given him ample time for other pursuits - namely, spending more time with Archer. Despite still being proper and polite, there had been a definite change in Kai's manner. The extra layer of formality had thawed out and melted away from everyday life, even while away from his alternate world of being a mechanic. He seemed almost - almost - "normal".

Layers were still the name of the game for him, but the casualty of dress was drastically different. No tie, no jacket, not even proper trousers; actual jeans, even if they weren't classically denim colored. His concession to the weather was short sleeves and leaving the top buttons of his shirt open, but he kept the extra layer of his vest. And as usual, somehow, without planning, Kai had managed to color coordinate with his twin.

It had been a long, but thankfully uneventful, flight from Atebus to Subeta. Kai glanced over at his sister, smiling slightly, and indicated the nature preserve before them with a small incline of his head. "Well, Kia? I'm following your lead here."

Kia snorted through her nose with a small playful grin. “You act like I have been here before. This is my first time here, just as it is yours.” Kia gave her brother a side long look, she hadn’t seen Kai for a few months and the change in him was… relieving and made her smile.

Change had been the name of the game for both twins really. After the Masquerade, Kia had opted to spend more time with their father in Centropolis rather than deal with her mother parading eligible bachelor after bachelor through the parlor each afternoon for tea. While in the city she had taken to dressing more the part of the locals. With the help of her friend Kam, she looked far more Subetan than Ziarran, shedding her long gowns and corsets in favor of short dresses, skirts and tank tops that were in for the season. One jump Kia just still couldn’t quite do was to wear pants or shorts or anything of the kind they just felt wrong and too boyish.

Kia still kept in contact with Lucas, they mailed each other books for the other to read, with small messages to each other tucked inside the pages relaying their ever increasing feelings for one another. One of the reasons Kia had come to Centropolis was the hope that they could see each other again, but as she had been making the arrangements the invitation came from the Peka Glade, forwarded from her mother with a letter demanding an explanation of how Kia received such an invitation.

Still Kia wasn't quite sure what to do with such an invitation. She looked at it and then at the entrance to the glade. "I suppose we just enter and show them these," she reasoned and headed towards the gate.

The way Devin saw it the days were to humid to lift much more than a finger and wouldn't argue with the want for time off. If anyone had ever needed a vacation from the tribulations of daily responsibilities it was the prince. He was known to proclaim it loudly to anyone who asked ( even those who didn’t ) and in the same breath request his wine goblet be filled once again. What sort of reputation would he have if he wasn't going to spend every waking hour as intoxicated as could be.

Reclining on one of the palaces many chaise longues with one leg haphazardly thrown over the backrest Prince Devin swirled the wine still remaining in his jewel encrusted goblet while silently contemplating the next few days to come. As he pondered his one good eye followed a massive palm fan twisting on the vaulted ceiling above. Thoughts of previous adventures left him restless. On his last outing he had gone so far as to extended an invitation for two outsiders to come have a visit. Not just any outsiders, but humans. Possibly the worst sort of individual aside from an unliving that he could have invited. At least according to his blessed and all-knowing mother. The deal the poor prince had to make with her turned the wine in his mouth to vinegar. Spitting said wine back into the goblet he set it aside and straitened his posture to prevent purging the contents of his stomach onto the carefully polished marble floor. If this unattractive behavior kept up there was no way the stipulations would be worth it.

Best not to dwell on that now. What was done was done and he would find a way out of it later. He always did. Glancing at the lavish wall clock glittering in the midday sun Devin Lockhart stood and stretched deciding that it was high time he went to the edge of their property to avoid any turbulent crossing for his guests. Terribly generous of himself he knew. Any ordinary person would need a tome of signed and resigned permission slips, one from each royal house and another signed from each member of the council granting access for an unauthorized party to visit the protected land. Being royalty had its advantages but being the prince of the royal house currently in power Devin needed little more than his own decree and a carefully worn smile.

It seemed his generosity this day knew no limits. There was little he could do about the rest of his people carrying on in their small outfits, as for himself that morning he had chosen a very modest pair of shorts and a handful of glittering accessories to better acclimate Kai and Kia to his home. The twins haled originally from the moon after all and the people there ever enjoyed dressing in layers and layers. It was a no wonder the Renwick’s made such a profit on selling the world’s upper class fine silks and linens.

Waving a hand dismissively when a few of the palace guards tried to follow Devin stepped out into the sun. Immediately the heat caused him to regret having left behind his wine. Having spent the last few days indoors beneath the fans the stillness of the outside air was an abrupt but not unwelcome change of pace.

Not long after the Devin embarked on his heroic mission a small green flower covered creature slipped from between the trees and began following the princeling at short distance. With fur that more closely resembled willow branches the stocky hooved creature seemed to wear a smile as it followed along. Butterflies of all colors flitted in circles around the thing and took turns alighting on the pair of grey horns that twisted from the bramble on the back of the creatures head. Small pink eyes peered out from between tufts of willowy fur as it trod merrily behind Devin yet to be noticed.

The heat was oppressive, especially to those who weren't used to the fluctuating seasons of Subeta. Kai, somewhat more acclimated to heat thanks to spending so much time in the stifling atmosphere of the engine room of an overworked airship, still felt sweat tickling under the heavy fall of his hair. He trotted after Kia toward the gates, enjoying the hint of breeze that simple movement brought to him.

Kai pulled his own invitation out of a pocket in his vest, smoothing it out the heavy, high-quality paper in his hands. He was fairly sure that the prince's interests lay entirely with Kia, but it had been nice of him to include Kai as well. While Kai doubted very much that it was for him to assume the role of chaperon, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he was going to become one regardless. Especially considering what Kia was wearing.

"You're looking well," he commented, fully taking in his sister's outfit. "How are you adjusting to going without a corset?" The topic of underclothes wasn't generally discussed in public, but since it was just the two of them, Kai felt it was a perfectly reasonable question. To go from yards and yards worth of fabric in not one but multiple different skirts, along with the steel-boned structure of a bodice of a proper dress on Atebus to the flimsy little short nightgowns that passed for dresses on Subeta was quite a leap. He had to admit, though, that proper Atebus fashion would be utterly ridiculous in the height of summer while planetside - at least, if one intended to go anywhere out of doors.

"Different,' Kia replied with a small, somewhat unsure smile. Small beads of sweat where gathering on the edge of her hair line, she could feel it, but there was an occasional small breeze that would come up and make it better. "Not bad though, far easier to read in and kind of... liberating." She paused and grimaced slightly, pulling at the back of her dress, or well, what was under neath it. "However, these bras that they have instead are nowhere near as supportive."

Kia was very grateful not to have to full in full Ziaran society visiting clothes. She would have passed out from the heat as soon as she walked out of their transport there. It was definitely much cooler year round on the moon of Subeta, seasons were more artificial and more controlled. She ran her hands along the back of the skirt and looked over her shoulder at it. "I'm not flashing anything am I?" She asked her brother. "These skirts are so much shorter than I'm used to. Still, I suppose it's better than the 'booty shorts' that Kam tried to make me buy. Pants and shorts just don't feel right to me. I’d look like you too much.” Kia chuckled and looked her brother up and down. “Not that you don’t look fabulous, I really like this look on you. You seem far more relaxed… and dare I say happy.”

Kia glanced over at the gate, noting that the guards were trying to look like they were ignoring them, but watching them intently at the same time. A small worry line appeared between her eyebrows as she debating for not the first time of simply declining the invitation. She had no doubts in her mind regarding Devin's interest in her and she hoped that she might be able to become just friends with the strange prince without any sort of heart break involved on either side. She knew know that her heart belonged just about entirely to another person... at least she was fairly sure.

Kia shook the thoughts away and closed the distance to the gate holding out her invitation to the guards there. “I believe that we are expected.”

Luckily the path that lead to the boundaries of the Glade was mostly shaded thanks to an overgrowth of trees, perhaps a sort of naturally occurring covered bridge. Passing the last house Devin stepped from a charming stone path onto a well-trodden dirt one and couldn't help but smile. It felt good to be out of the house even if he hadn't gotten that far. Having dirt beneath his hooves made the outing all the more real and a small summer breeze had even begun to trickle down the lane cooling the adventurer considerably. Even here there were traces of the summer festivities. Sun shaped lanterns dangled from the limbs of trees and occasionally caught a bit of light that would send rainbows reflecting throughout the wood.

“I don’t remember inviting you along.” Devin spoke to the creature that had been following him but didn't turn to acknowledge it otherwise. His statement did nothing to offend the creature but rather excited it. Hopping about causing its willowy fur to rustle and disturb the butterflies in its mane it bounded in front of Devin, disappeared in a cloud of green mist and butterflies only to reappear beside the prince moments later in another puff of greenish vapor. “I suppose they would end up meeting you one way or another… Maybe the sooner the better?” Devin scratched his chin but gave no more thought to the matter. Mandragore was as harmless as the butterflies who seemingly spawned from it. It was one of the more pleasant Glade dwelling spirits who could have chosen to tag along the prince would do little to dissuade it.

A solid fifteen minutes later a sparkle in the distance ahead marked the boundary between lands. Shielding his eye to get a better look the sun glittered off the uniforms of the guards and the gate alike. The glare made it impossible to determine how many bodies were present. Closing the distance quickly Devin put on a smile while Mandragore dispersed back into the tree line as silently as it had come. “Well now what have we hear.” The guards once alerted snapped to attention and quickly opened the gates to make way for the prince. The only thing that was missing was a royal fanfare. Forgivable, this was the summer festival after all, or summer salvation as Devin like to put it. With his arms outstretched he managed to grab both the twins in a warm embrace before releasing them and offering a proper bow. “Welcome friends to my homeland. I’m honored you could both make the trip.” Sure he sounded a little primitive but the differences between his culture and that of the modern world made it difficult to translate otherwise. Devin wasn't spectacular at many things, nor was he driven to excel at much else besides being a promiscuous lush, but the prince was rather malleable when it came to adapting to new cultures. Something the rest of his people saw little value in to be sure, but a talent worth mention all the same.

Kai hadn't been expecting such an...enthusiastic greeting. He tensed noticeably at the unexpected and uninvited embrace, but said nothing of it. "We were honored to be invited," he replied with a polite smile, returning Devin's bow. "Though I do believe your letter has put Kia into a spot of difficulty with our mother. From what I have heard, she cannot understand how Kia would warrant an invitation from royalty of any sort."

Kai himself had received the letter at his own apartment in Ziara, being that it was the only address he really gave out. This meant that the twins' mother had no idea that her son and daughter had both been given the same opportunity; given that her tight-lipped acceptance of calling him her son had been grudging at best, it was better that she now know everything going on in Kai's life. Not for the first - or likely the last - time, Kai glanced skyward and thanked the stars above that he'd had the presence of mind to get his own place to live as soon as he'd signed on to the Starway fleet.

Kia smiled and curtseyed to the best of her ability in the short skirt. "Mother will deal with it," she said waiving the topic away as she held her hands out to Devin. "I am very curious to see your homeland for myself, though I have a feeling that it won't be nearly a fantastical as the rumors and stories make it out to be." Kia had read meany books about the glade through her life, most of them she didn't believe were true but she hoped that some of there were.

She glanced back at where she had left her small traveling trunk. "Is there someone to bring a bag a long or should I leave it there?" Kia asked.

Devin grinned and took Kia’s hand drawing her to his right side where he could better keep her in view. And what a view, though he did well not to mention it. Shrugging slightly at the mention of the twins mother his eye fell on Kai and dwelled there a moment. “I often find it’s better to let them wonder. We get in less trouble that way.” He winked or maybe blinked before turning his attention back to Kia. “These gentlemen will be delighted to watch your belongings." He motioned to the stoic guards. "A steward is on his way to retrieve them as we speak.” Or would be shortly, news around the Glade traveled fast, there was no way his mother wouldn't be keeping tabs. “As for the stories well, I was never much of a reader. I prefer to experience the real thing myself.”

Sweeping his hand towards the gate and the path beyond Devin bid them enter. “Gently now, the first step can be a bit ah… Overwhelming.” Perhaps it sounded a little pompous but he was rather being quite serious. The energy inside the Glade, depending on the person, could induce dizzy spells and would even cause some newcomers to faint. Pollution here was nonexistent making breathing realistically much easier, though for some the transition from the outside world to that of the Glade was sometimes more turbulent than not. The trees here were ancient and became larger the deeper into the Glade they grew. If you leaned close enough you could almost feel small vibrations as if a wooden heart beat within each trunk. Small white seedpods listed carelessly towards the ground rerouted by the smallest disturbance of the otherwise still air making the woods almost seem to sparkle.

Small flocks of multicolored birds sang from the treetops and would occasionally swoop to catch an unfortunate insect here and there. Small mammals hidden beneath the bramble to either side of the dirt path rustled around as they foraged for a meal. If it hadn't been for the temperature the woods really could have been described as magical. None of this was especially spectacular for Devin having grown up within the sanctuary his entire life, he hardly batted an eyelash when a bright blue butterfly alighted atop his crown. Instead he gave a moment’s pause to make certain his guests were acclimated enough to press onward.

It was enough to make Kai's head spin, but he kept his balance admirably. From the heavily recycled air of Ziara City, to the equally recycled air of the transport shuttle, to the not-recycled but still polluted air of Centropolis - very rarely was Kai around air that was anywhere near pure, let alone as pure and clean as the air in the Glade. He kept an eye on Kia and Devin; not because he thought Devin was any sort of threat to his sister, who could take care of herself, but because Kia had even less exposure to anything outside of Atebus. At least Devin was there and close, and could support her if the need arose. Kai wasn't sure if he would be much to lean on just yet.

"It's very beautiful," he commented, watching the gently swaying branches and the drifting sparkles of seeds. He thought he saw eyes in one of the bushes, but when he blinked it was gone. It was just a small patch of violet flowers partially hidden behind a leafy bush. Interesting, how the place seemed to play tricks on the mind.

Kia basked in the beauty of the glade, smiling brightly as she took in the warmth and greeness of it all. Everywhere she looked there was a different flower that she'd never seen before. In the corner of her eye she thought that she saw things moving in the bushes, hidden.But like her brother when she looked over they were gone. It was as Devin said... overwhelming.

Unfortunately Kia seemed to fall into the fainting group. One moment she was smiling brightly and taking in the beauty of the small portion of the glade and the next she felt her head and the world around her start to spin. She reached out for Devin's arm to steady herself but missed falling backwards towards the soft green earth.

"Oh bother," she groaned just as she blacked out.

(( Sorry I poofed for so long! Work this weekend got a little cray cray and I'm a little burned out XP))

In the beginning the duo seemed well enough but it wasn't long before Kia’s senses were overwhelmed and went into reset mode. It had been a good thing Devin was paying attention or he may not have moved quickly enough to prevent the girl from hitting her head. Thankfully the prince had the sense to stand in close enough proximity to either party member to better prevent such a painful welcoming, it wasn't rare that a first timer would lose consciousness.

Kia’s limp body wasn't heavy but then again Devin wasn't the sort of person who much liked bearing the weight of another, metaphorically or physically. “Now this won’t do.” Quirking a brow, the only one visible, Devin glanced up at Kai. “I half expected you would be the fainter.” He laughed all in good fun and lifted Kia into his arms. What really wouldn't do would be if he set her down the way he had been tempted. Especially while in the company of her twin brother. “It really isn't the same if you don’t get to experience the walk…” Frowning slightly he glanced down at Kia and hoped she wasn't going to be out for long. “But we better get started or we’ll miss the light. Unless she's got some sort of magical switch I don't know about." His eye twinkling Devin looked expectantly towards Kai.

((Real life comes first! Always))

Kai's first response, beyond worrying over Kia's health, was mild affront at Devin's words. "Just because I like men doesn't make me girly," Kai pointed out, but the words lacked any sort of venom. "Set her down?" he suggested, nodding toward a small, grassy patch beneath one of the trees nearby. "Water may help. She's not the type to faint easily, otherwise I believe she would carry her own vial of smelling salts like typical Ziaran ladies." He knelt on the grass and pulled his shoulder bag forward, rummaging in it for a moment before withdrawing a dark blue plastic water bottle.

As soon as Devin complied, with Kia sitting on the grass with her back against the trunk of the tree, Kai patted her cheek gently. "Kia. Kia, wake up." The fainting spell was likely brought on by the same things in the air that made Kai feel a little wobbly, but she could easily have been affected by the heat and be slightly dehydrated as well. Kai firmly forced himself to think logically for the moment; if she couldn't be roused, then panic would ensue.

((Oh! And just as I was wishing for an rp, too! I'll change avatars or add the other one tomorrow, and then jump in, if it's alright with you guys~))

Kia's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she reached up and patted Kai's check in a mock slap. "I'm awake," she said and slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the bright sunlight. "I"m sorry I don't quite know what came over me." She said putting a hand to her head. Kia still didn't feel completely steady but at least the world wasn't spinning and the feeling did seem to be fading. "Shall we be going then?"

[[ If you can find a reason for the character that you bring in to be in the off limits area of Peka glade, I don't see why not? Ultimately this is Cheshire's show since we're kind of in Devin's world.]]

((Shylarah was invited by Devin at the Masquerade. Though I'm going to wait for approval from before proceeding.))

(( I was wondering when you were going to show up! LOL. If you don't mind terribly can you hold off your arrival until we get to the next day? It would be smoother that way I think. Feel free to give us some back story till then if you feel so inclined c: ))

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Devin had a way with men, either they loved him or they thought he more closely resembled the hind side of a horse. They of course had good reason, the deer prince stood taller than the average man and didn't mind showing off his figure when at all possible. Not to mention he had an amazing personality, something any insecure person would envy. Having had no prior knowledge about Kai’s orientation Devin hadn't meant to upset him, but the man’s reaction was not entirely unexpected. Must be a sour subject, why else would he be so quick to defend himself. Otherwise it was an interesting fact to discover. They hadn't really ever had a chance to get to know one another, rather knew of each other thanks to Kia and poor Devin didn't really know how to play it safe, the filter normal people had in their brains that told them to watch what they said hardly ever woke up long enough to give the prince any useful advice. Instead he let his mouth get him into trouble more often than not only later having the hindsight to discover exactly why people were so upset with him.

Today it would appear was no different. Not five minutes after his guests arrival and he was already saying and doing the wrong things. Maybe it was foolish to think that just because he socialized with humans outside of the Glade a few times he would be prepared to host them. Oh well, what was done is done. Shrugging Devin complied with Kai’s request to set Kia down. Thankfully the girl wasn't difficult to wake and quickly responded to Kai’s efforts. “There she is, welcome back. We missed you.” Devin scratched gently just beneath his eye patch and smiled. “There is no reason to rush, when you are ready we can proceed.” Maybe there was a small reason, but nothing he need worry them about just yet. It wasn't until tomorrow anyway, they had all evening to become better acclimated and would learn about it later.

((Nobody pinged me, so I had to notice you guys posting in my friend feed. stalk stalk Sure, I can wait. I wonder what event you're hinting about that will occur tomorrow.))

Kai wasn't terribly offended, thankfully; he was just a little bit nettled. Being open about himself was something he was still getting used to, and it was easy to get defensive over even imagined slights. Especially given the things he'd heard from both family and...not necessarily his friends, but friends of the family. It was something he was trying desperately to build up a tougher skin about, but things still prickled despite his best efforts. Getting back to his feet, Kai helped Kia to hers and offered her the bottle of water. "Here. It might help."

In entirely platonic closeness, Kai kept one arm entwined with his sister's to steady her. Remarkable how her moment of weakness in the heavy air of the Glade had awakened a sudden strength against it in him that kept them both twins in balance. "Don't push yourself, Kia. Just breathe."