I saw rise in the heat settle soft and as pure as snow

[reunionize]

[This, honestly, took a lot of work. More work than some of the battleplans, but admittedly the machinations of the Victorian nobles are predictable. The only thing Talulah knows about the northern territories is what she's gleaned from her father's journals.

Edward Artorius apparently had a decent enough relationship with the ruler when he'd been alive, and since the wendigo race of Sarkaz live for a very, very long time, perhaps any goodwill towards her parent might be extended to her.

She has also gleaned the northerners are not unreasonable; they've crossed paths during various skirmishes at the border, and they ignore all rebel forces once their own task is complete. Talulah has made it very clear no one from her side is to engage with any other party that isn't either obviously Victorian, or strikes first, and it seems the courtesy is returned.

That said, isolationist policy is hard to overcome, and what she's asking isn't a mere favor. To be embroiled in civil war in another country is an idea most people would scoff at, but...the north has undoubtedly seen the writing on the wall for what will transpire after the dust settles. Victoria's appetite is ever unsatiable.

The Gaulish castle she walks through is a testament to that. It's nothing but ruins now, good for little else besides neutral territory. She's brought two members of the rebels with her, two with a calm rationality suited to negotiations. She'd be fine going in alone, but, well...if Talulah saw another group's leader sitting all alone during a meeting that was meant to be a peaceful talk, she'd think there was an ambush waiting.

Still, no matter how rational one is, curiosity tends to win out, and she can hear her escort party gossiping even behind their masks. They're wondering if the northern princess is as beautiful and strong as the rumors say. If she's half as strong as that Cautus she'd seen once during a border skirmish, then her alliance would be more than a boon.

By her estimation, the meeting time is near, so she supposes she'll find out soon enough.]

Comments

[reunionize]

["Fun" isn't exactly the word Talulah would use, but it's exciting to have a strong opponent in a fight that doesn't have any other lives on the line. She genuinely and seriously wants these alliance talks to go well, but a part of her can't help but feel that the trip might have been worth it alone to know Frostnova like this.

The fake blade doesn't cut her hand, but the force is enough that she'll likely be dealing with a terribly bruised wrist until she meets up with someone who has healing arts. Still, she's pushed through far worse pain before, and doesn't let the opening she been given escape. Her next swing lacks finesse, but she doesn't need it if all she wants is to break Frostnova's guard completely.]

[hypothermy]

Shit—

[ not a very ladylike thing to say, but no one besides Talulah is close enough to hear the curse Yelena spits out after she realizes her mistake. she's thrown off balance, the arm holding her cane knocked out of the way, and she knows even as she rushes to regain her stance and dance out of Talulah's reach that the fight is likely already over. ]

[reunionize]

[Talulah's too focused on the fight to really hear it, but she wouldn't really care if Frostnova curses any other time, either.

She closes the distance between them in a few strides, knowing that if she lets the other have even a second too long to recover, her speed will make any counter of Talulah's useless. She swings downward, aiming to hit just hard enough that Frostnova's legs will buckle and give Talulah the only win condition.]

[hypothermy]

[ try as she might, the angle of Talulah's swing hits home. Yelena's able to bring her cane up in time so practice sword doesn't hit her directly, but the force behind the strike does what it needs to. she can feel her center of gravity shifting, and in a last ditch effort to correct her form, she miscalculates her movement, and falls to the blow.

if she'd just taken the hit on the chin, she could've at least taken a knee with some dignity. instead, thanks to her messy attempt at a recovery, she's knocked flat on her back, giving a picture-perfect victory to the draco scion. ]

[reunionize]

[In the aftermath, there is a brief moment where Talulah looks faintly surprised. Although she’d gotten the perfect opening, she still half-expected Frostnova to dodge.

She lowers the point of her sword and wipes the sweat off her brows and temple before walking over to Frostnova on the floor. Talulah’s not sure the gesture will be well-received, but she still offers her hand for the other to take. Good will, even if refused, is better than the alternative.]

[hypothermy]

[ Yelena stares blankly up at the sky after her fall, too surprised to move at first. how long has it been since she lost a fight, since she was pushed to point where a loss was even possible? the extended use of arts burned more of her stamina than she expected— she really shouldn't have tried to show off so much.

when Talulah's hand comes into view, she can't help the brief, sharp laugh she barks out, a rueful smile on her lips. ]

—sorry. And thanks.

[ she reaches to take the hand without hesitation. even through her gloves, Talulah can feel the cold radiating off her body. after expending that amount of energy, it takes a while for Yelena to rein her temperature back in. ]

[reunionize]

Sorry for what?

[She feels the chill as she helps Frostnova up, but her own arts turn the cold negligible. She's still breathing harder, the adrenaline not quite wearing off, and yet, she's already thinking about a rematch. How well she'd fare against a Frostnova who now knew her attack patterns.]

And you're welcome. That was a good sparring match.

[hypothermy]

Forget it.

[ if Talulah isn't the type to get worked up over someone laughing in her face, Yelena's not about to push it. another facet of her too good to be true demeanor Yelena will need to factor into plans— especially now, given that she's fully intending to honor the bet she made.

she lets go of her hand as soon as she's back on her feet, moving to brush off the ash and dirt clinging to her clothes. ]

You're as good as they all say. True Elders really are terrifying.

[reunionize]

Does only half count?

[A part of it is likely that Talulah doesn't think the other is laughing at her all that much.

She brushes herself off as well, her grip on her sword finally loose and at ease now that the bout is over. A straightforward compliment from Frostnova isn't something Talulah expected, but there's no surprise on her face, only a small smile.]

And you've certainly earned your own reputation. I don't think I've ever met a caster at your level before.

[hypothermy]

[ when the other side of Talulah's family is the imperial line of Yan, she'd certainly think so. ]

My level of innate arts ability isn't common in Ursus. I had to be tutored by a Leithanien.

[ who was hand selected by the Twin Empresses from their court and sent over as a diplomatic gesture after their spies had discovered Yelena's struggles to control her abilities as a child, but Talulah doesn't need to know about all that. yet. ]

Give me your weapon. I'll put these away, then I need to talk to you.

[reunionize]

[That would explain the singing, and how effective it had been as a conduit.

Admittedly, in the midst of the excitement of the match, she'd forgotten this spar had been as a bet, but that's probably what Frostnova wants to speak to her about. She hands over the sword without protest.]

Sure. I'll meet you by the door.

[hypothermy]

[ Yelena doesn't rush when she returns their weapons to the shed, taking her time as she mulls over her next steps. she can trust general Hellagur not to gossip about what he saw take place here, except perhaps to her father, and even then, he'll only have his suspicions to go on for the full story behind this friendly little training bout. ]

We're going to my rooms. I don't want eavesdroppers for this.

[ she states clearly to Talulah once she exits the shed, not bothering to ask if she had other appointments for the day. regardless of all her eccentricities, whether it be her position in the army or her commoner's blood, Yelena is still the heir to the Ursine throne. the courtiers and military will schedule around her. ]

[reunionize]

[Talulah waits patiently for Frostnova to finish, but as she hears what their next destination is, there's a hint of surprise on her expression. She expected something a little more...formal? There's plenty of comfortable meeting rooms Talulah has seen while she's been in Ursus.]

Okay.

[Because despite her confusion, there's nothing else to say. She looks beyond Frostnova to give a differential nod of farewell to the general, before gesturing towards the exit.]

Lead the way.

[hypothermy]

[ after Yelena gives a slightly more extended goodbye to the general, she begins to lead Talulah back through the palace grounds. ]

Our court is loyal, but a palace is a palace. [ she says once they're out of the old Hippogryph's earshot. ]

None of the nobles want to wait for the official decrees to know what's been going on, and if we expelled every foreign spy that's slipped in, it would cause more problems than it solved.

[ which is why their path begins to alter at the midway point, taking them to a wing Talulah has not been invited to enter yet; the royal family's traditional residential rooms.

Yelena suites are on a lower floor, and while the first sitting room she takes Talulah is nearly indistinguishable from the others she's visited in the palace, through another door lies a secondary, smaller space, that's obviously more lived in. ]

Here.

[ she tosses a notebook and pen onto the coffee table that sits between two sofas, a nearly empty bowl of candy resting atop it. there's an electric kettle on a taller table against the wall that she moves to, situated next to some cabinets and a short refrigerator. ]

I need ten names of people you've met in the capital who you think are willing to support your petition. The higher military ranking the better— nobility doesn't matter as much. Public servants of high clearance will work too.

[reunionize]

[That explains most of Talulah's unspoken questions. There's probably nowhere else in the palace that's as guaranteed to be eavesdropper-free as Buldrokkas'tee's beloved daughter's room.

Talulah follows along at pace, observing the new area she's being led through. She does the same when she's led into Frostnova's rooms, but only for a moment. The other's instruction takes precedence over her curiosity about the candy.

She sits down on one of the sofas and picks up the notebook and pen, before starting to write.]

There are plenty of people who would support my petition but who would make things...complicated in the aftermath. I assume you only mean the ones we want to deal with.

[hypothermy]

If we're talking about Victorians.

[ she turns the kettle on, grabbing a pair of mismatched mugs from and a small tin container from the cupboard. ]

I meant people you've met in our capital. But if you think there's anyone worth my time from that circus in Londinium, then sure, write them down too.

[reunionize]

Mm. One or two.

[Talulah hesitates slightly over the next line. She recognizes that this, too, is a sort-of test. It wouldn't bode well if she'd failed to evaluate those around her properly, especially those who would make or break this alliance.

It doesn't take long before she starts scribbling down names again, only glancing up briefly when she hears the clink of ceramic from the mugs. She wouldn't turn her nose up at hospitality, but in times like these, she has a rare pang of homesickness for the tea more popular in Yan and Lungmen.]

[hypothermy]

[ Yelena does have some premium Yanese tea— in her outer sitting room, where she's supposedly meant to entertain visitors of import. the stuff she shakes out of the tin into a strainer is a blend of various black Yanese teas that's been popular in Ursus for centuries, the same brand old Gopnik would give her when she sat in on military meetings as a child. ]

I can get you the rest of the way there with anyone in Ursus who's seemed sympathetic. You'd be better on your own negotiating with the Victorians.

[ their military calls her a craven witch for the tactics she employees guarding the border, and the grand dukes joke that her status as heir is proof of her father's declining mental faculties. for the time being, Talulah has little to gain with her countrymen from tying herself too closely to Yelena in public. ]

[reunionize]

[Talulah had gotten used to the black tea of the kind Victorians preferred, but it just hadn't been the same. And there's certainly none of the green or jasmine teas she remembers from childhood.]

How much better is really the question.

[Talulah suspects at least a good half of the number of Victorian nobles who aren't publically decrying the rebellion or who hated Kaschey's influence have much to say about her behind closed doors, and none of it good. They all have their own ideas about who should or shouldn't be on the throne, and she's upended all their plans in an instant.]

Here. Feel free to point out if I've misjudged any of those.

[She puts the notebook and pen back on the coffee table, open to the page where she's scribbled the names Frostnova wanted.]

[hypothermy]

[ Yelena makes an agreeable noise once Talulah finishes, moving to put mug and saucer filled with steaming tea in front of her before sitting down on the opposite couch with her own.

she picks up the pen and notepad and goes down the list. perhaps unsurprisingly, Talulah's assessments aren't far off from FrostNova's own. she wonders if the draco is aware that the individuals she's named are more than enough to make the alliance she's hoping for dangerously close to reality. ]

I don't disagree.

[ speaking placidly, she scribbles down a few additional names beneath Talulah's. ]

You want a few more civil servants to round out the numbers.

[reunionize]

[She murmurs a word of thanks when Frostnova gives her the tea, and she picks up the mug delicately from the saucer.

Talulah is aware she's made a lot of progress forming the alliance, but the final move, or the final stone that tips the scales in her favor, is still a little murky. After the sparring match, she's convinced Frostnova, at least. That's a boon she's not taking for granted.

She glances over the names that have been added and makes a thoughtful sound.]

I see. Thanks for the advice. If you'd offer me a bit more...in your opinion, is this enough?

[hypothermy]

It's hard to say.

[ Yelena sets the notepad back down, sliding it across the table to Talulah. she picks up her cup a moment later, holding it close to let the steam warm her and enjoy the fleeting heat it gives off before her touch inevitably cools it. ]

Victoria needs to be dealt with sooner or later. Anyone who's been watching knows that, but it's not a problem we can fix overnight.

[ when she takes a sip, her breath fogs on the exhale— she really overdid it earlier. it's probably going to take all day to get her internal temperature back to something manageable. ]

Now that they've seen you, though ... you're powerless, compared to us, and half of what comes out of your mouth is idealistic nonsense. But there's a path forward with you that doesn't involve dealing with butchers or tearing down another empire. That's worth something.

[reunionize]

No, it's not an easy fix.

[Talulah takes a sip of her own drink, watching the frozen puff of the other's breath with vague curiosity. After experiencing the strength of Frostnova's arts firsthand, the fact they tend to manifest in other ways outside of a fight makes sense. Power that vast has to be hard to rein in.]

Is that why you changed your mind?

[Talulah won the bet set forth, but she knows that can't be the whole reason behind why Frostnova is helping her now.]

You saw the path forward?

[hypothermy]

I don't know about that.

[ there are still too many unknowns for FrostNova's liking. putting down Victoria's military is one thing, but there's so much more that comes after that. getting Talulah on the throne, making sure she can govern, establishing a partnership that benefits Ursus but allows for the renewed Artorius monarchy to eventually stand on its own—

hell, she hasn't even brought up the other rebellion being led by a draco claimant in the territory. ]

Ursus has only been at peace during my lifetime. The last emperor's final war lead to the end of his line, and waited until he was on his deathbed to dump his mess onto my father.

[ she takes another swig of her tea, the cup still clasped in both her hands, flying in the face of proper noble etiquette. ]

I just figure ... there's nothing to gain from repeating that. I don't want to be making these decisions when the knife's already pressed to my throat.

[reunionize]

[Talulah most certainly knows about that other faction. One of the sisters can be reasoned with. The other is a madwoman. Her only redeeming quality may be that she does not seem to care if her sibling sits on the throne in her stead, but that leaves too much room for puppetry for Talulah’s personal liking.]

I see. Victoria is certainly sharpening their weapons in anticipation of menacing you and others with them.

[She takes a sip of her own tea, with flawless etiquette. Not that she minds or even notices Frostnova’s lapse. Some habits are simply too difficult to break.]

I’m guessing, though, that the list of names isn’t the only thing you need from me.