OOC note - Arsinoe is promoted to sub-lead in the Badlands, just hasn’t made it to the front page updates yet!

Her father loses. It is as if something has switched within him ever since he took Kohelet from Fell - he hasn’t had a successful battle in months. Is it his age? His willingness to go for the throat? She isn’t sure what has shifted so much in him, but she’s tired of it. Where is the brutal stallion who beat Velahrn again and again? Where is the monster who ripped out Shars’ throat?

At the time Vadim came skulking about Arsinoe was fine with him not being around. But as the seasons dragged on her anger grew - Cynisca deserves to have her flesh and blood raise her. The great oaf has responsibilities, and he needs to be in the Badlands fulfilling them, not play-acting at being a stallion and hiding from his duty in the Lagoon. She has left him alone long enough; it his time for Vadim to learn the ways of the world.

So when Rafe returns without Vadim in tow, Arsinoe takes matters into her own hooves. The Lagoon is a short swim from the Northern shore, and men are idiots. Arsinoe is certain she can slip in under cover of night, steal Vadim from wherever he sleeps and deal with the consequences later. Why should Raegar be the only one enjoying the spoils of a successful raid? He’s had his pretty roan Peak mare for nearly a year, even convinced her to give him a child. Arsinoe can have her own Lagoon toy – it’s only fair.

The moon is full and bright overhead, the Spring air dry and cool when she leaves Cynisca tucked in with the other foals, certain that one more little filly won’t be much difficulty for Klara and Vela and Azurah to keep an eye on.

Reaching the Lagoon doesn’t take long. Arsinoe wrinkles her nose at the scent of wet rot on the air, her desert upbringing recoiling at the oppressive moisture. How do they filter it out? But she won’t be here long - she walks for scant minutes, carefully placing her feet to stay as quiet as possible until she looks up and Vadim is there, alone and quiet.

Arsinoe glances around, and when she catches sight of no other she offers a breathy, relieved sound. “Vadim,” she whispers, drawing in close. Ever willing to play her part, but afraid to key him in to her attentions and make him call for assistance and turn the tables, trapping Arsinoe here, she draws in close but does not touch him. Arsinoe makes an effort to keep herself loose, soft, her green eyes wide and sweet as she looks up at him. “You never came back to visit me,” she murmurs. Glancing over her shoulder to the beach and eventually to the Badlands, she adds. “It’s a perfect night for a swim - come with me?”

She takes a half-step back, hoping that she can lure him her way. With the size difference and her overall inexperience at fighting there’s no way she can force him out, nipping and herding like the stallions do. But there are many ways to get what she wants, and violence isn’t always the answer. Sometimes the application of force can come in softer ways - and if seduction gets what she wants, well, Arsinoe has never been one to forsake the goal just because of the journey.