In The Tongue Of Serpents

[Aurelia]

February 13^th, Year 1

Aurelia liked all earthly creatures. Each one had its benefits, each one could be cute. Snakes could be cuddly, enjoying the warmth of the sun, the softness of green plant life. And oh, while her pillows were soft, these leaves were wonderful. The flowers smelled so delightful. It had been... centuries since Aurelia had been able to enjoy such pleasures, and it helped her relax in such a foreign place.

And no one had told her about the other snakes in the garden.

Aurelia hummed gently from her lying position, fingers carefully working as she wove the stems of flowers between her fingers. She'd gotten rather far now, a number of feet of floral weave looped around her tail. Among the flowers and scales were a plethora of smaller snakes, of varying colors and sizes. It seems they all found refuge among the larger serpent's coils.

Even with her blindfold on, the golden executioner enjoyed the company. There wasn't anyone who would really pile with her like this, so she'd take what she'd get.

Even if it was a little strange-looking to any passers-by.

[Nasira]

Outside, Nasira squinted as her dark eyes adjusted to the light. It was midday, and the sun was high in the bright blue sky, marred only by a few distant clouds. She glanced around the sunny courtyard and saw Aurelia beyond the Peacock Fountain and aviary. 

Nasira tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and apprehensively began her descent down steep marble steps. The overseer had reservations allowing a gorgon in their ranks, and it would take more than a thin, flimsy piece of cloth to alleviate them. Nasira knew that if Aurelia wanted to, she could kill every single one of them. She remembered reading about the three sisters, Stheno, Euryale and Medusa, and their power to turn anyone who looked at them to stone. In Aurelia's case, gold would be their shrouds. It made Nasira's skin prickle to think of it. No one should have that kind of power. The sensible thing to do would be to kill the gorgon and be done with it. 

Was it? By that logic, Maleficent should have had Nasira executed for her unapologetic loyalty to Jafar. People in glass houses...

Unlike Nasira, Aurelia did not have a mean bone in her body. She just wanted asylum, and the Blackblood Legion had prided itself in taking in those that society had scorned.

It could work.

Aurelia was basking in a tangled rainbow of miscellaneous snakes - saw-scaled vipers, tree snakes, wadi racers, sand boas and Arabian cobras. Nasira's tall shadow cut through the mass like a scalpel. Hands clasped behind her back, the overseer stood before the ghazi, tall and with a newfound confidence, a cobra beside a ball python.

"Aurelia." Nasira's voice was firm but not unfriendly. "I've been sent to give you a tour of the grounds."

[Aurelia]

The tall shadow brings a gasp across Aurelia’s lips, but it’s Nasira’s voice that spurs her into action. Coils roll swiftly, sending the plethora of serpents darting into the greenery. The Gorgon rights herself as fast as she can, and throws her weaving work aside, as if to hide the evidence that she was making something pretty.

Even with Nasira’s polite tone, it seems Aurelia is terribly afraid of the Overseer. Though, it’s not just her. While Aurelia had been slightly acclimated to Thomas and Tabs, she’d spent time with a very limited number of people. Others were too afraid, or even disgusted by the Gorgon and her state. Save for a tv-headed tripod and a young human, Aurelia was outright terrified of every single Blackblood.

Her face tilts downward, as if to ensure avoiding eye contact, “A-Ah, yes, Ma’am. As you wish.”

[Shiloh]

Across the courtyard, sitting under the shade of one of the few trees in the palace, sat a certain other blonde haired individual. Blue eyes shift attention from the small device in her hand to the other two people in the courtyard.
Letting out a small hum, she shifts around, pocketing whatever it is in her hand and standing up.

She can see that the gorgon, if she's remembering her Greek myths right, is rather uncomfortable in the presence of Nasira. Understandably so, in Shiloh's opinion, since the tall woman has been known to come off as stern and commanding, even when not intending to be.
Deciding it might be better for all, perhaps at the very least to try and ease the tension, Shiloh strode over to the two, clearing her throat to make her presence know, and flashing a small fanged grin.
"Apologies, I don't mean to intrude, but mind if I join the two of you? I'm still trying to find my way around the place myself," she asked.

[Nasira]

Knowing Aurelia could not see it, Nasira's mouth curved into a small smile as the medium watched the serpents disperse. It was a small thing, but it was nice to know that she was not the only one in Agrabah who appreciated their "pest control."

Under Nasira's watchful eye, Aurelia timorously got up and quickly discarded the floral lace as though it were contraband. Nasira felt a twinge of pity, chewing her bottom lip. Fear rolled off Aurelia like waves surging toward the coast. Ah well. Gorgon or not, that was nothing out of the ordinary. New recruits were, more often than not, tentative, nervous and mistake-prone. In time, Aurelia will gain confidence. 

"You've been a part of the Blackblood Legion for almost a week now. Before we begin, I want you to tell me what you've learned so far," Nasira commanded. Realizing that may have come off as more aggressive than she intended, the sorceress quickly added, "Don't worry about forgetting something. We'll go over everything else."

"Apologies, I don't mean to intrude, but mind if I join the two of you? I'm still trying to find my way around the place myself."

Nasira was pleased. The willowy necromancer gave Shiloh a nod. "I don't see why not."

[Aurelia]

It’s impossible to not notice the Gorgon’s immediate grab at the other female. A dainty hand finds Shiloh’s wrist, and Aurelia is prompt to wedge herself next to— and almost behind —the vampire.

“N-not much,” comes the meek voice, “I know that the actions of one doomed all.. Ah.. magic users, that is. I know a man got magic users exiled with his actions. They, ah, became the Blackbloods, I think? To, ah, take back what was stolen from them. Fight for their rights.” There’s a curt nod here, before she continues, “The rest is stories, rumors... Evil incarnate, torture and murder for no reason, global take-overs....”

The Gorgon shakes her head, as if to scold herself, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be afraid. My stories aren’t very good ones, either...”

And there it was.

Aurelia wasn’t afraid of Nasira because she was Nasira, she was afraid of her because she was a Blackblood, and an Overseer at that. Her head had been filled with horror stories, reasons to fear the army and everything they did. Which explained why Shiloh seemed to be exempt: she was new. Three centuries of fleeing for her life had made it hard to shake any sort of fear, even if reason could be used to explain it away.

In a desperate move, Aurelia had thrown herself into the lion’s den, despite her fear of ultimately meeting her death, in an attempt to find sanctuary.

[Shiloh]

Eyebrows raise slightly at the sudden hand on her wrist, and Shiloh had to hold back a chuckle as Aurelia used her as a shield from the overseer. This poor woman, Shiloh could see she was so very much out of her element here, it was a surprise she hadn't been metaphorically eaten alive by the other Blackbloods. Then again, not all the members of the legion were as rough and threatening as they seemed.
Nasira was a good example.

Shiloh gave the overseer a nod of thanks for allowing her to accompany them, but at the same time, couldn't help but feel bad for her. She was only trying to do her job, and it was obvious she was trying to be as nice as possible to Aurelia, but it's obvious Aurelia is terrified. As Shiloh listened to her account what she knew of the Blackbloods, it became increasingly obvious why.
Of course there would be slander, rumors, and stories spread about. Perhaps the Blackblood legion wasn't exactly morally right, but she would bet a weeks worth of blood the other two armies probably weren't pure and righteous either. They were in a war after all, bad things were going to happen regardless.

"We all have good and bad stories, my dear," she told Aurelia, her voice soft and relaxed as she tried to quell her worries, "But many stories are thrown out of proportion. I'm not exactly burning in this sunlight after all," she couldn't help but let out a chuckle that time.
"Perhaps it would be best to hear both sides of the story," she said, turning to Nasira, "I doubt they're quite as bad as people like to exaggerate, ne?"

[Nasira]

Nasira really wanted to know who told Aurelia that. "Before the Blackblood Legion, Agrabah was an economic and monarchical disaster on the brink of collapse," she rectified crossly. "The sultan was stupid and lazy. Jafar had to hypnotize him just to get him to do the bare minimum. And the king's only issue did a bang up job terrorizing every prospective suitor in the Seven Deserts. The royal family already had one foot out the door. Jafar did what he had to do to free Agrabah from that blundering tyrant - even if it meant utilizing the forbidden arts." 

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be afraid. My stories aren't very good ones either..."

"Whose is?" Nasira asked indulgently. "Most of us hail from...'humble' beginnings."

She turned and ambulated, gesturing for the other two to follow. They had a lot of ground to cover. "I assume you two are familiar with the rules?"

[Aurelia]

Nasira’s cross response has a tiny gasp escape the Gorgon, grip tightening ever so slightly on Shiloh. It’s obvious that Aurelia is very used to fleeing from conflict, and it’s taking every fiber of her being to keep from attempting to hide elsewhere in the garden. Though, at the mention of ‘stories’, she seems to loosen up, even if it’s just a bit. Though it looks like she’s prone to follow when Shiloh does, and not a moment sooner.

When questioned about the rules, there’s a small stammer here, “Ah... generally ‘listen to your superiors’, ‘death before dishonor’, and ‘don’t do dumb stuff’, if I remember right. Most of it was, ah... pretty obvious.”

[Shiloh]

Shiloh resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Nasira explained how and why Jafar had taken over as ruler here, she had seen evidence of many lazy or corrupt rulers over the years. From the sounds of it, regardless of means used to acquire it, Jafar sounded like he had been a better, or at least a more active ruler.
Which begged the question of where he was now, and why Maleficent was the currently in the position of power. She'd hold off on that question for now though.

Her gaze flickered to Aurelia as the other let out a small gasp. Poor girl was still so tense and scared. When Nasira gestured for them to follow, she gently took Aurelia's hand, softly tugging to hopefully get her to follow along.
"What Aurelia said," Shiloh agreed, when the gorgon answered Nasira's question about rules, "The word of the leader is law, defend our territory, show no mercy to the enemy, don't trespass on enemy territory. I'd say it's all common sense, but that doesn't exactly seem to be very common anymore."