Patreon Announcements and Writing Sneak Peek!

So! With my job contract reaching its end this Friday, I'll be having a lot more free time on my hands while I'm looking for work.

This means that (hopefully), I'll be able to open up more often for commissions and work on projects that I can share here!

That being said, I also understand that with Valentine's and the lull of February, things can be dicey for folks with funds.

Just want y'all to know that your support is appreciated however you feel safest and most comfortable, and that I am grateful for each and every one of you for being here!

Here's to sharing some more stuff soon, and in the meantime have a sapphic duel challenge scene!

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Maraevas walked into the spotlight, taking a deep breath before speaking out to the chair members in the opera seats.

"I am Maraevas Thedrenos of the district of Ouenip! I stake mine and my family and my community's home at Our Lady Weaver's Septuasancti Cathedral! I challenge the proposition of Circadia Realty and reserve my rights to defend my claim."

"Miss...Thedrenos. While your declaration is acknowledged, we cannot consider it valid unless you have a second party to vouch for your claim. Please consider what you are saying carefully...if the board of chairs finds your claim to be lacking, then you risk forfeiture."

Maraevas' neck grew hot, flexing her mouth as not to tremble. She produced the deed and her community's claims, "I have the signatures of my family's claim and the petition of over fifty Circadian citizens and natural residents as my secondary and tertiary parties in binding."

"Presentation of documents related to a property request must be submitted at least a week in advance of the date of adjudication."

"This...adjudication wasn't announced until three days ago....This isn't a request! My claim is-"

"Your claim is to challenge the proposition of Circadia Realty, to which you have brought a territorial acknowledgement and the complaint of forty to fifty gnats buzzing in the wind. These are our rules - our customs, and you will respect them Miss Thedrenos."

No...not after all this. These were their rules, and she played around all of them and they'd still ignore her! She stopped...no - they were never going to let her win. Even with every dotted "i" and crossed "t", she wasn't an affiliated citizen. It didn't matter how many people backed her up, if they didn't even see her as a person. She was desperately blinking back tears as she gripped the documents in her hand with the crinkling of paper.

The judge looked down over his nose with a sniff and glanced around, "If there are none who will step forward to stand as second with Miss Maraevas Thedrenos, would the claimant please step-"

The doors to the ballroom slammed open with the whisper and bustle rumbling through the crowd. Maraevas turned to see a figure stepping onto the velvet walkway with orange high-top sneakers and a suit coat draped over their shoulders. With a half-unbuttoned shirt, suspenders and an untied tie around their neck, Ashe strutted down the aisle until they stood at Maraevas' side.

"Sorry it took me so long, Mary. I had to confirm something."

She didn't care that her makeup was probably running. She didn't care as she wiped on her glove and smiled with a sniff. She took Ashe's hand and squeezed it, "I'm just glad you're here."

"What is the meaning of this?! You barge into an adjudication of th-"

"The Crown Gala of Cognitia and Circadia Subsidiaries, yes I'm aware of the title," Ashe cut them off, eyes simmering with heat like the wavy air of a desert road, "I am Hashkahiel of the Third Eye, Second Ring and Sixth Wing, and I stand as Second to Weaver Maraevas' claim in defense of Ouenip."

The ballroom continued with whispers and murmurs of the new entry and new titles.

("Can she really be announced as a Weaver?" "All the Saints' Council on the continent would've been wiped out at the Crown Conclave decades ago..."  "What's this third eye business they're talking about?"  "Isn't that the delivery person that's been working around town? Hard to believe they'd have a title")

Ashe paid them little mind, turning to look in Maraevas' eyes, an amber to her gold even with puffy eyelids and faded mascara.

"Maraevas...you prayed more than anything for someone to stand with you as you take care of your home and protect it, and you were heard. But even as I tried to aid you, I left your side as you continued to do the work. Please forgive me..."

Ashe got down on one knee and bowed a little lower than her, "It would fill me with the joy of heaven on earth if you would let me remain by your side, for as long as you would have me...please..."

Maraevas felt a warmth in her left hand as she saw the mark of Hashkahiel change. Where two square rings had intersected to make an eye, there was now a third above them giving a faint glow. Now it was her turn to kneel as she met Ashe's face and gently held it with her left hand, taking the angel's with her right.

"Ashe...you have never truly left me since the day we met. You've been so kind to me, even when I am a servant of the Crafter with you and you favour me so much...if it pleases you and Heaven, I'd be glad for you to stay with me."

Ashe's eyes lit up as they rose and lifted Maraevas into the air, "Yes! Hahaha - yes yes yes!!"

The laughter of the two rang throughout the ballroom like church bells amid the sparkling of the chandelier.

"Ahem!" The adjudicator cleared his throat, "It appears the claimant has found a Second for their challenge. Does Circadia Realty answer the call or forfeit?"

A twisted brow of fuming blood pumped through the realtor's face as he promptly stood up, "The company of Circadia Realty accepts, with a representative party answering on its behalf. We declare the location to be here, with the time of the claimant's choosing."

Maraevas looked for Ashe to place her down, retracting from the warmest hug she'd ever had. After brushing down her dress, she answered, "We declare the time to be in one hour."