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

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

[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.]

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[The role feels rather ill-fitting to Talulah as well. Less so that it's so far removed from her life in the rebel group or even Londinium and Lungmen, but because she's never really been the type of person to sit back when she's able to act. Helplessness is a state she neither enjoys nor wears well. But needs must, and all of that.]

I have given it some thought. Mostly, I think we need to figure out how to fix our own or steal some working comms equipment. Even if we tripped over intel tomorrow, it's no use if we can't get it out of here, and the next place with any kind of allied presence is far away.

[In short, they need someone to pick them up or meet them halfway somewhere, which is impossible if they can't figure out a way to let anyone know where they are.]

We can always send our people back in here later.

I'm not that useful with tech. Stealing something's going to be our best option.

[ there's a chance that a noble might have that kind of equipment, depending on their hobbies or involvement with certain movements within the country. the army, on the other hand, is guaranteed to have multiple long range communication devices— positioned deep within their base, of course. ]

But it's not as if we have to bring back information from this. We could just try to make for the nearest allied base. We don't know if Ursus and the rebels have any idea if we're dead or alive right now. If the Victorian army knows that they don't know, things could get could really bad.

I know that much. But if we just want to leave, we need to prepare for that too. Getting to another town or city without any kind of transportation would be...too risky, I would think.

[They could, theoretically, make it, since messengers do it all the time. But those have fancy comms equipment and the ability and time to get all the supplies they need.]

Especially with how on edge the army is around here. If we run into any patrols on our way out or while traveling, I don't think we'll have the same good luck as we did the first time.

[ Yelena chews and listens to Talulah's response. she has a point about the dangers of leaving as they are now— but there are dangers in staying where they are too. County Hillock is relatively isolated from the northern front where bulk of the fighting is taking place, but Talulah might be the most wanted woman in the country, and while FrostNova's not a huge international figure, there are plenty of images of her to be found by someone with a bit of persistence and a search engine. ]

I think we should make a decision about how we're focusing our efforts. Stealing is our best shot at getting transportation or a working communicator, and it's not very likely that we're going to be given a chance to take both and make a clean getaway.

We have the best chance of getting our hands on a car.

[Someone would eventually leave one open for theft. Even the soldiers, no matter how paranoid, would get drunk or distracted. That said...]

But it's also the riskiest option for travel. No matter if it's military or civilian, and even if we took the back roads, we'd have to bank on not getting caught. Comms equipment, though...as much as I'd prefer it, I don't see a way to get it. Or even get into a building that likely has it.

Yeah, I couldn't figure out a realistic way to solve the communicator issue either.

[ the kind of setup they'd need to send messages on hidden channels isn't something you can slip into your pocket and sneak away with. ]

As for the car, the safest bet would be to dump as soon as we can. If there's a train station that's less than a couple of hours away, that would be ideal.

[ she swirls her noodles, considering their options again. ]

Train travel has its own issues, though. To get a message out, do we need it to be a two-way conversation? Would it be possible to use someone else's equipment to send a message, but leave before they notice?

No. Technically speaking, we don't. But if we use that method, we have no idea if whoever we sent the message to is able to do or understand what we ask.

[So they couldn't actually trust that any instructions they sent would be carried out, which means they'd have to think of another contingency plan.]

I think there's a station close enough that it could be viable. Maybe if we could send a message, and then have two plans for whether or not we see someone at the nearest stop to pick us up.

That's true. Going through the trouble of getting access to a radio for something with slim chances of success probably isn't worth it.

[ Yelena's cleared her bowl of the noodles and vegetables, but she's drinking the broth now. she's not one to waste food, even if it is glorified salt water. ]

At least this party should have plenty of cars to scope out.

Yes...and the sooner we can get out of here, the better. I'm going to endear myself to the nobles as much as possible for intel, but I'd rather not have to participate in their social activities beyond that.

[And if she does a good enough job, she surely would get further invitations for tea and who knows what else.

She sighs and pushes her empty bowl to the side.]

I'd also like to get out of here before the fuse is lit in this town. It's always been a matter of when, but things seem to be getting worse, don't they?

If the civilians are attacking Victorians out in the open, I think we should plan on leaving as soon as possible.

[ after Talulah finishes her own bowl, Yelena moves to stand from her seat and take both their dishes. ]

I can clean up down here since you did the cooking. I can wait to start washing things if you want to use the shower.

[ turning toward the kitchen, FrostNova doesn't think to check herself over. with her shirt riding up from the movement, Talulah will get a rare view of her tail, along with a flash of her underwear through the tail hole in the borrowed pants. ]

[Talulah is fairly sure she hasn't actually seen Yelena's tail before, as her clothing usually covers it in one way or another. Which might explain the utterly irrational urge she has to touch it once she does notice it.

Of course, because her gaze is drawn to the white, fluffy fur, she also catches sight of the fabric that is a distinctly different color from the rest. She wonders if she should say something or not, since it's not as though Yelena could change into something else if she's already borrowing Talulah's clothes, before she realizes that she's staring and pointedly looks away, finally standing up from her seat.]

Um. Sure. I'll be quick.

[ FrostNova's more concerned with clearing out the makeshift drying rack then checking on why Talulah's gone oddly silent behind her. Cautus tails are supposed to be sensitive, but Yelena never really notices hers unless she accidentally sits on it. the fact that its peeking out now doesn't register, and she only glances back when she hears Talulah's chair belatedly scrape across the floor. ]

Okay. Just yell when you're done.

[True to her word, Talulah doesn't spend long at all cleaning up, and emerges back into the main room of the safehouse after a short time. At least she knows to keep her gaze above a certain level when she wanders in.]

I'm finished, so you can use the sink now.

[She busies herself with drying her hair with her arts the best she can, so it won't drip water onto her collar.]

[ she really didn't need Talulah to say anything, considering how acute her hearing is. once she hears the faucet turn off upstairs, she's already putting water in the battered old kettle and stacking dishes in the sink. ]

Thanks.

[ with her back to Talulah again, the little white puff of fur is fully visible, standing out against her dark clothes. ]

I'm probably going to bed after I finish this and have some tea, but it won't bother me if you want to stay up later.

No, I'd rather go to sleep. I do want some tea, though.

[Even though the quality of the stuff they can get their hands on here barely counts as tea.

She moves to sit at the table again, sparing a glance at the irrationally tempting fluffy tail before watching the faint lights of the town outside the window. Passing people and cars make them dim, and this far behind enemy lines, it's hard not to feel the need to be watchful all the time.]

Sure.

[ she'd already made sure to put enough water in the kettle for two people. the stuff the last occupants of the house left behind is the cheap stuff in bags that tastes like it's cut with sawdust, but Yelena's never been picky about something's flavor, as long as it's not rancid.

the dishes don't take long, and she's setting one of the three mugs they have in front of Talulah. her own cup goes on the opposite side, but she makes a detour before sitting down, going over to the closet where her uniform coat hangs to dig through the pockets before returning to her chair. if she'd known what was going to happen on that damned mission to intercept the Victorian special operators, she would've grabbed something other than a fist full of candy. ]

Do you want one of these? [ she holds up one of the brightly colored wrappers, a practically neon hue when compared to their drab surroundings. ]

[Talulah recognizes the candy. She often sees Yelena eating a piece or two during breaks and has wondered about the flavor for a while.]

I'll have one. Thanks.

[She takes the offered candy and undoes the wrapper, setting it aside before popping the whole thing in her mouth. At first, she's confused when there's no sweetness to it, but after the candy dissolves a little more, a sudden burst of capsaicin spreads from the tip of her tongue to the back of her throat, and she starts coughing.]

--it's spicy?!

[ FrostNova can acknowledge it's a little mean to pull this prank on Talulah right now. she hadn't even gone to grab the candy from her coat with the intention to offer one, but something about the oddly peaceful atmosphere had placed the idea in her mind. a feeling came over her, something like a premonition, that things wouldn't be quiet like this again for long while.

she stays completely blank as Talulah unwraps the candy and puts in her mouth, and it's only after it starts to melt that the placid facade she puts on begins to fracture— brows scrunched together, mouth pursing, until she breaks out into loud, bright peals of laughter. ]

Sorry, sorry, I know—

[ she picks up the wrapper in her palm and lifts her hand to Talulah, face still flushed while she giggles. ]

You can spit it out, I've had my fun.

[Talulah's slightly mollified hearing Yelena laugh, even if it is at her own expense. She's certainly never heard it that bright and joyful before, and it's such a rare occurrence in general that it distracts Talulah from the burning that's spread through her entire mouth. At least briefly.

She takes the wrapper and spits the candy out into it, making a face.]

At least one of us enjoyed that. I can't believe this is what you've been snacking on the whole time.

[She also can't understand how Yelena maintained a straight face as she ate the candy, either. There are some flavors that imitate spice, like cinnamon, but this certainly didn't taste like that at all.]

When I get really cold, it's the only thing I can taste.

[ she re-wraps Talulah's unfinished candy to throw away later and tosses her own piece into her mouth, immediately cracking it in two with her molars. ]

Sometimes I don't know if I really like it or if I've just gotten desensitized. [ it's clear FrostNova's so used to the snack that she's gotten adapt at speaking around candy in her mouth— a skill she exhibited back in the palace, with identical candy in her private departments. ]

I haven't been able to pull that prank on someone in a while. All the Yetis and the generals know they can't trust me about food.

And no one thought to warn me.

[Probably because they figured that Talulah would learn her lesson sooner or later.]

But I believe you can taste that even through the cold your arts puts out. Actually, I think the dead could probably taste it. How'd you even discover something like this? No confectioner in their right mind would make it, right?

[Talulah winces slightly when she sees Yelena bite down on the candy. The burn still lingers in her own mouth, and the visual reminder of what caused it just makes it worse.]

No, I make them myself.

[ but as for the other part of Talulah's question, FrostNova doesn't answer at first. it's been so long, the exact circumstances aren't as clear as they once were. ]

It was in that first year or two after my arts presented and I moved into the palace. I didn't have any significant level of control, and I completely lost of my sense of taste and smell. I wasn't bothered by it that much, so it took a while for everyone there to find out.

[ she'd just been happy to have anything to eat at all. ]

Once they did, they let me try basically any food I showed interest in. I think the story goes I got into someone's Yanese takeout order at an emergency meeting when they brought me in to say goodnight to my father.

Gone completely?

[Talulah is understanding more and more why Yelena's father brought in Fremont to help. Arts manifestation like that in a child is, to her knowlege, practically unheard of. Normal tutors or methods simply wouldn't work.]

But that doesn't seem unlikely. Some regions' cuisine is notoriously spicy. I guess it works because it's a "feeling" more than a "flavor", in the end.

Yeah. I couldn't safely touch anyone besides my father either.

[ and "safely" is a bit of a stretch. the skin on the hand Buldrokkas'tee first cradled Yelena with never entirely healed— even the invulnerable Wendigo struggled against the blizzard her tiny body created when she was staring death in the face. ]

It's probably the feeling I like more than the flavor, but I associate one with the other. Being able to have that sensation again was helpful with my training. Once I got used to the cold I had trouble remembering what anything else felt like.

You really had to struggle with this.

[But, thinking back to their sparring matches, Talulah doesn't think the other's arts would be nearly as devastating and precise if she hadn't. She's never seen caster like it before or after they met.

That's probably small comfort to Yelena, though. Talulah's already having a hard time wrapping her mind around a small child being unable to touch anyone other than her own father for fear of freezing them.]

I really wonder if mine will be any help...but it won't hurt to try.

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