Joel
**Jules-Minnow Lanterns
The Court of Skulls, Tonate Proper**

The mood of the court had noticeably soured as the pantheist took his leave. Southerners had a way of fucking up even a good day, apparently. Yet that didn't dampen the fire in Jules's gut as she stood awaiting her name. 

"Now, from the Isle of Lanterns," Announced the crier, "The Iron Poet, Jules-Minnow Lanterns!"

She strode confidently down the central isle towards the Pirate King. Lean and light-footed, Jules-Minnow carried herself with the swagger of someone who could handle herself - and knew it from experience. 

She stopped just before the steps and dropped to one knee. Her long braid lightly brushed against the floor as she bowed her head. 

"Yer majesty."
Rhonda
The Pirate King, Bradai Maith
The Court of Skulls, Tonate Proper

Many of his best and bravest had left with his sister on the voyage north, but there were still many Captains in his Isles. He kept the younger ones, primarily. Those that had not yet joined up with his fleets or were still making their meagre fortunes beyond his seas, doing Gods know what. This, he could see, was one of them. She was salty enough, composed enough, spritely enough, respectful enough. But for good measure, he kept her on her knee for a second longer than usual.

"Rise," The Pirate King said, and when she did, she could see that he was smiling. He wanted to say something, but he knew better than to speak first. His Queen, one of fifteen, said something first. 

Lella-Long Lanterns had similarly long, dark hair that framed her round, comely face and draped over her reclined figure like a shimmering black blanket. Her skin, unlike her husband's or her sister's, was pale and showed only a few freckles, just beneath her eyes. She was inscrutable, and quiet, as always. 

"I didn't think yew'd come," Said Lella-Long Lanterns, audible only because the entire court was silent. She scanned her sister up and down before adding, " 'ow is our brother?"
Joel
**Jules-Minnow Lanterns
The Court of Skulls, Tonate Proper**

Jules stood only once instructed. She knew the Pirate King's reputation as a stickler for propriety, and she also knew the weight of her ask. Chin up, gaze sharp, she regarded her sister with measured respect. The two hadn't spoken since Jules had left for the sea and Lella had left for Bradai's bed. Yet by Jules's measure, little had changed in her sister: she was still lovely Lella, always in charge, even when sitting beside a king. 

Jules, on the other hand, had changed drastically. Where the two had once looked nearly identical as children, they couldn't be mistaken now. Jules's hair had gone wavy from salt, bleached by the sun, and her skin was blotchy from peeling. Perhaps the one thing they still shared was their eyes, keenly dark with their own thoughts 

"Not good, sister," Jules said, nodding her head towards Bradai. "It's what I come t'talk about."