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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[Talulah doesn't take much more prompting--the more time they spend waiting around, the greater the chance is that someone besides drunk partygoers runs into them.

Even through the back hallways, she tries to hide her face as much as possible. There's nothing to do about her clothing, but hopefully, someone thinks she's some random noble avoiding being seen for whatever reason rather than a person of interest.

Once they're deeper into the servants' sections, though, she realizes she doesn't know exactly where the coatroom is.]

Right or left?

Left.

[ Yelena motions for Talulah to follow, down into a narrow hall. the light is dingy, but there's a coat rack and a door at the end of it. she begins with the ones that look like what the other valets were wearing, quickly going through them until she feels something promising in a breast pocket. ]

I've got one.

[ they may want to get a few to make finding a car one matches to easier, but her thought is interrupted. it's muffled, the impact coming from the other end of the house, and for a split second Yelena thinks she might've overdone it with the pipes— then the explosion hits, and the foundations of the house shake. ]

[Talulah has also found a key, and is in the process of squinting at it in the dim light to see if she can figure out the make and model of the car before they get to where all of them are parked when the explosion rattles the house.

Her head snaps towards the direction of the blast before she turns back to Yelena.]

Nearest exit--go. I don't care if we end up in a whole company of soldiers, we shouldn't be here if this place starts collapsing.

[ her mouth goes dry as she realizes a fight isn't just a possibility, but likely inevitable. still, she doesn't question Talulah when she orders her out, dropping the coat in her hands and immediately moving to throw open the door.

the back garden is empty, an eerie pocket of calm as the sounds of havoc begin to amplify around them. there's sounds of weapons firing in the distance, smoke beginning to rise behind them in the direction of the front of house, and when FrostNova looks toward the gate that leads to the side street where the cars are parked, she catches flashes of fights in dark uniforms marching beyond the bulky shapes of the vehicles.

shrill screams mix with sound of a newborn conflagration. Yelena looks wordlessly to Talulah, waiting on her orders. ]

[Talulah frowns over at the shadows moving by the cars. That's their best way out, and she already said she doesn't mind fighting if it comes down to it, but she'd rather not get pinched between two factions if she starts a scuffle with whoever is marching in.

Instead, she tips her head in the direction opposite the sounds of fighting. It's higher ground. If they can get a better look at the lay of the battle unfolding, they can get a better idea of how they can slip through the worst of it.

Thankfully, there's a lot of cover and shadow for them to use as they go.]

[ again, Yelena moves without question, sticking to the shadows as they make their way to Talulah's chosen vantage point to survey the area. she moves as fast as she can while maintaining over, only pausing when she hears a familiar whistle overhead. a streak of light in the sky momentarily casts the city below in a daytime glow, before the explosion of its landing throws them back into the dark. FrostNova grimly notes it came from the direction of the base.

by the time they arrive at higher ground, the battle lines have clearly been drawn. fires have steadily grown from the west where Dublinn made their entrance into the city, the current focus of the Victorian army's bombardment. military vehicles are beginning to stream in from the base in the east, holding troops who mean to drive the invaders back. ]

We could go north or south to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The civilians will have the same idea, but that could work out for us.

We could blend into the crowd, but no matter what, we still have the same problem. We can't use those anymore...

[She points towards the nobles' cars, the parking area now full of both Dublinn and Victorian footsoldiers. If she and Yelena tried to get one, they'd get surrounded immediately.]

So we need to find another way out. And before the Victorians get up a roadblock and start trying to restore order. I hate to say it, but we might need to take advantage of the chaos and steal something from the military.

Are you saying we should go for the base while their attention is focused here? Or head for a choke point and attack one of their trucks as they're entering the city?

[ they don't have a lot of time to make a decision, but deciding things rashly won't help them either. getting to the base on foot as they are will cost them precious time, while lingering in the streets greatly increases their chances of getting caught up in a serious fight. ]

If you want to avoid adding to the casualties, it's better if we stay out of the way for as long as we can. I'm not going to hold back if we have to engage either side.

I know. We've got no choice but to fight now if it comes down to it.

[But she would like to minimize casualties.

She tries to think, quickly, going over the possible benefits and pitfalls of each option. The base is likely in chaos, and because of that, there is guaranteed to be something left unattended. That's also where all the juicy intel they hadn't been able to get their hands on resides.

But it's far, comparatively, and they'd have to cut through or avoid a lot of the fighting. The Dublinn and Victorian forces only have to get lucky once to catch them. Jacking a truck as it drives into the city is the safer (and less lucrative) option, but there's also no telling if and when one will drive by.]

Ambushing someone as they drive in is easier, but not guaranteed. What do you want to do?

[Yelena had been following her lead out of necessity, but they didn't need to play master and servant anymore.]

[ FrostNova turns to look out over the city, exhaling a breath that fogs the air. it's not a particularly cold night— it seems more like she's readying herself for the inevitable. ]

If we're already playing dirty, we need to hedge our bets. We'll head for the base while skirting along the army's entry routes. Someone falls behind the pack or looks vulnerable, we move on them, and if we don't get lucky, we'll go take whatever's left behind.

[ the ruler of Ursus' reputation proceeds him. he's a fighter who values honor above all, sometimes to the point of his own detriment. his soldiers are trained similarly, a fighting force to be both respected and feared, but when it came to Yelena and her squadron, Buldrokkas'tee changed his tactics.

in sad sort of way, this may have been the better outcome for them. FrostNova's specialty is guerilla warfare, and this sort of chaos lends itself to practical brutality. ]

Alright.

[The situation they're in doesn't really afford any room for a fair fight. Even Talulah can see that.

She flexes her hand, now glancing across the city to find the best route to take between the major battlefields. She'll have to remember to pick up some kind of weapon on the way--she can get by with her arts, but she's much more effective with a sword.]

That way. [She points at what appears, from a distance, to be a corridor of darkness between the fires and moving soldiers in the dark. It would be easy to use as a way through, for now.] Let's go.

[ with a nod, Yelena falls into step beside her as they head into the labyrinthine backstreets of the small city.

while they aren't entirely alone on some parts of their discreet route, the fleeing locals pay them no more than a glance. the ones embracing violence are out in the open, looking for targets to take a swing at— the people in the shadows are focused solely on survival.

FrostNova's focus is everywhere at once, her ears swiveling around at a frequency Talulah's never seen before. she's trying to keep track of who's seen them, how far away the nearest fight seems to be, the direction of the wind and more. even the smallest things can make a difference when moving through a hostile environment. which is why, a good ways into their route, she reaches out to tap Talulah lightly on the shoulder. ]

Do you want to switch shoes for a while?

[ the dress heels the nobles had given her aren't the the most absurd pair she's seen, but still, they're not exactly made for walking long distances. ]

No. If we do that, we'll just have to keep switching.

[Talulah sighs, slowing to a stop and peering down at her shoes. She's been managing so far, but there's no telling what terrain they'll have to cross in the future.

Admittedly, the whole outfit is frustrating, but the shoes are definitely the worst.]

I could probably break the heels off, but these won't hold up as flats...did you see any looting on the way? We might be able to get what we need from somewhere that's already been broken into.

[So they don't have to waste time breaking the locks and windows themselves, that is.]

[ well, there goes her attempt to be considerate. she huffs out a breath and turn her head to the direction of the main thoroughfare, considering. ]

I saw a couple places on our way, but they weren't stores I knew. We're close to the city's general store though. I'd bet it's been hit by now— we could make a stop and see what our chances are.

[ even if it's accessible, there might be competition, and it's hard to gauge how their fellow looters might react if they run into each other. ]

Edited 2025-07-12 01:35 (UTC)

[Well, isn't Yelena always telling her to be more pragmatic?]

Alright. Let's try. We can probably gauge how things are from a distance, at least.

[Talulah drifts slightly off their original path now that they have another goal. The city gets more signs of previous fights as they make their way through--more smoldering piles of trash and wreckage, more cracks and gouges in the streets.

The general store has obvious activity when they get there, but from what Talulah can see, it's mostly civilians. All the windows are broken, so after choosing one with the least amount of jagged pieces left behind, she jumps through.]

[ Yelena hops through as gracefully as she can, landing firmly on feet— though the stiff, plain dress she's wearing doesn't fare quite as well, catching on a narrow shard of the remaining window and tearing easily. FrostNova doesn't seem bothered by it, fishing a knife out from somewhere beneath her skirts and then proceeding to cut most of it away, up to above the knee. ]

It looks like most people are going for food and medicine.

[ she glances around, undeterred by her now more ragged appearance. the civilians seem to be grabbing things for a long journey or long occupation in mind. given the level of destruction outside, Yelena's not sure either side has plans to hold the city once the fighting is finished. ]

We should see if they have any coats as long as we're here.

[The Victorian military probably sees wiping County Hillock off the map as a win, in all honesty. They destroy a stronghold of Dublinn sympathisers as well as eliminate any remaining evidence of whatever they've been hiding in their bases. But it's too late to stop them now that the fuse has been lit.

But, that does mean the groups rifling through other parts of the store can be ignored, and in turn they'll likely avoid Talulah and Yelena.

While nothing seems destroyed or ransacked completely in the section with clothing items and the like, it is a total mess. Talulah sighs a little before starting to dig through some of the chaotic piles for a pair of boots that are relatively her size.]

Tell me if you find anything useful first.

[ Yelena sticks close to Talulah as they go deeper into the store, keeping an eye on everyone else helping themselves to the goods. even for a city this far out in the boonies, their wares are significantly more ample and varied than similar sized town in Ursus— the wealth of Victoria really is inescapable.

she grabs a sweater for herself as well as a jacket that looks reasonably warm, knowing she'll need all the layers she can get if she has to use her arts. finding something for Talulah is a little more difficult, considering— ]

Most of these are for Felines. Do you care if we have to make the tail opening larger to fit you?

No, that's fine.

[She manages to dig out a pair of serviceable boots from under the piles of other clothing, and kicks off the heels she's wearing to try them on.

They're slightly too big, but if she tightens the laces enough, they should work perfectly well.]

Beggars really can't be choosers in this situation.

[ people on a schedule also can't afford to dig around a ransacked store for too long just to find a slightly better looking coat. much like she did with her skirt, she cuts the hole to size while Talulah laces her boots, letting out a rueful little huff when she realizes how well she's sized it without needing to eyeball Talulah's backside.

it'd be a funny bit of knowledge to pick up from doing their shared laundry while they were here, if her mind didn't traitorously recall the scene in the manor that took place barely an hour ago. she hands the coat to Talulah once she's discarded her heels, expression coolly distant again. ]

With how far we are, I think we should considering committing to heading for the the base. We're more than half of the way through town, and if we haven't gotten lucky by now, speeding up our pace could give us an advantage.

[Tails can be a bit of a dangerous subject, can't they? Talulah valiantly tries not to recall the night she saw Yelena's too much.

That said, she is a little touched that the jacket really is a perfect fit when she tries it on. As much of a mess as this situation has been, and as much danger as they're still in, a small part of her is grateful for the chance it's given her and Yelena to get closer to each other.]

Thanks. And I don't mind that plan. Now that you bring it up, we should get to the base while the Victorians are distracted with corralling Dublinn. That could take a lot less time than we think.

[She takes a few cursory steps in the boots, judges them serviceable, and starts to head back towards the window they came through.]

We should watch for traps as we get closer, though. I don't doubt either Dublinn left them for soldiers as close as they could to the base, or the Victorians are fortifying the stronghold.

[ FrostNova follows Talulah back the way they came without missing a beat, having a much smoother exit now that she's tailored her skirt to her preferred length. ]

If we stick close to the main road, we won't have trouble seeing which one it is.

[ with their target firmly picked, the pair move faster through the city. once they reach the outskirts and the military base looms in the near distance, it becomes clear Dublinn gained the upper-hand there.

the paved road is littered with destroyed trucks, blasted onto their sides or into several pieces by a combination of mines and spikes. most have been dragged out of the way to make a clear path for the outgoing soldiers, but the oil, burning metal, and charred flesh is thick in the air. ]

[Talulah observes the wreckage briefly, before lifting her hand. There's a brief spark, followed by a burst of heat, like the rush that comes when someone opens an oven.]

If there are any of those mines left, they won't detonate now.

[Which doesn't mean there aren't any other traps or soliders, so Talulah makes her way down the path to the base at a more careful pace. In a stroke of good luck, one of the side doors appeared to have been either blasted or rammed open, making it easy to slip inside.

Except for the sound of distant battle and the crackle of remaining fires, it's eerily quiet. It makes her hair stand on end, and she squints down the hallway, trying to track any movement in the dimness.]

A service corridor?

[ FrostNova squints down the corridor, ears swiveling around as they stand at the threshold. ]

This is really suspicious.

[ she says bluntly, unable to come up with a better word to describe an entrance left conveniently unguarded during an extensive enemy attack.

leaning back, she looks toward the direction of the main gate the road leads into. if there's anyone still holding down the fort, at least one of them will have eyes on it, and they'd probably have to circle around the perimeter to find another way in. ]

But it seems like our fastest option.

On the bright side, the trap probably isn't for us.

[Which means maybe they could take those who set it off guard.

Not that Talulah wants to waste their time dealing with that if she doesn't have to, so she's quick but cautious as she makes her way down the hallways. There are noises the deeper they get in, so it might be that the entire base's attention is occupied by something else.

She doesn't stop until she sees what is obviously a commander's office, a plaque on the wall and everything. It also seems to be the only thing that's locked. They don't have a lot of time, but if there's any place with intel...it's in there.]

...can you hear anyone inside?

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