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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It still shouldn't have happened.

[Ignoring what they're told about something small could possibly be a much larger issue, but Talulah will figure out just how big the problem is sometime tomorrow. No use in harping on it now when Yelena is inside, already.

She moves to sit down on one of the chairs, expecting Yelena to do the same now that they have at least a little time to chat.]

...but is there another word for it? Did you run into some kind of problem?

[ Yelena had been going for a quick goodnight, but when Talulah moves to sit, she follows her lead without a second thought. she's moving on autopilot as she takes the chair next to Talulah again, scooting it closer to her side now that she's been reminded of just how far sound travels through flimsy canvas. ]

No. [ her mouth twists as she rethinks that answer, amending it a second later. ]

Not like you mean. The Yetis have been acting weird with me ever since our trip to Hillock, like I need to hold their hands to do anything.

Ah. I'd also thought I was making a little headway as far as them trusting me went, but it seems I'm mistaken, as of late.

[They don't say anything directly to her, of course, but they've been noticeably more standoffish compared to before County Hillock. Which, maybe she can understand if they think she's somehow at fault for their prolonged absence...?

It is, admittedly, a little difficult to keep her train of thought, considering she's dressed for sleep and the thinner fabric makes the warmth of Yelena at her side nearly impossible to ignore.]

But in your case, maybe it's their version of my new escort.

Maybe. That's the most obvious answer.

[ but not one that satisfies FrostNova. she doesn't think much of Talulah's sleepwear either, having seen her in much less when they were together in the safe house and Yelena was tending to her wounded arm.

what she does quickly realize is that she's moved her seat a little too close to Talulah— their knees are almost brushing. it would be awkward to shuffle back, kind of rude, too, so she stays where she is and tries to push her embarrassment aside. ]

They all like you. That's what they told me, anyway, but I haven't asked about it recently. Have they said anything to you? [ Yelena trusts the draco heir completely, and that should be enough for them. ]

No, not at all. I only thought they were getting more comfortable around me before, but they seem to be avoiding having a conversation with me beyond greetings.

[The Yetis are steadfast, trustworthy, and well-trained under Yelena's command. Talulah doesn't doubt that for a moment. But there has been, at least in her view, a distinct change in their behavior as of late.]

It might just be my imagination.

No, they've been acting weird with me too. There's definitely something going on.

[ which is frustrating on a number of levels. she's not used to playing these kinds of games with the Yetis. they're family, brought up together since before any of them knew what Ursus, let alone Victoria, was. Yelena can't think of a scenario where they'd be purposefully moving behind her back, even if it was a mandate from someone higher than her in the pecking order.

she rubs a hand over her eyes, frustration mingling with exhaustion from the journey to make a bone-deep weariness start seeping into her body. where was she sleeping, again? Yelena doesn't know if anyone mentioned it to her while she was running around the camp. ]

I'll talk to them about it tomorrow. I won't tolerate my squad acting like a bunch of kids because of whatever hidden agenda they've got going on.

Hidden agenda?

[Like a game? Talulah can't imagine what kind of inside joke or scheme would result in this, but she also doesn't know the Yetis nearly as well as Yelena does.

What she does know is that the other is starting to look a little tired, and as much as Talulah wants to keep talking with her, she's not so self-centered she'd do that at the expense of Yelena's rest.]

Actually, don't answer that. I'm glad you came by, even if you didn't have to, but I've probably kept you awake longer than you wanted to be.

It's all right. I wanted to talk to you.

[ her response comes immediately, an insistence to her voice like she wants to make sure Talulah knows she hardly cares about being kept up late if it means she can speak with her a little longer. which is ... coming on a bit strong, she also realizes— if that's the right word to use between friends.

Yelena huffs out a breath, looking over to the map laid out on the table again. ]

You don't happen to know were they're putting us up for the night, do you? That's one piece of information I didn't get while I was out there.

Me too.

[It doesn't count as coming on strong if Talulah's perfectly happy about it, right?]

I know the section you're supposed to be in. If you give me a minute to get a jacket, I can take you there.

[There are probably several others who can serve as an escort, but Talulah's fine with doing it herself, and besides that, she would like to maximize what little time they have left together.]

Sure, I don't mind.

[ FrostNova isn't exactly some fresh-faced recruit who needs a superior to guide her around in the dark, but Talulah's offering, and she not about to turn her down.

she waits until Talulah's gone and gotten her extra layer before rising from her seat again, ready to follow her out into the camp. ]

[Once Talulah has better shoes and an outer layer on, it looks a lot less like she'd been just about to go to bed, at least. She steps out of the tent, expecting Yelena to follow, and briefly mentions to the guards where she's going. They exchange glances again, and she sighs to herself, thinking that look probably meant someone is going to follow them at a distance, even in the middle of camp.

She doesn't pay it much mind for now, though, and sets off towards where Yelena, the Yetis, and some other squads should have their accommodations.]

Well, now that we have a little time, I guess you can answer my question. What did you mean by "hidden agenda"?

[ Yelena falls into step beside her, not thinking much of the guards that see them out of Talulah's tent. she's not expecting Talulah's first line of questioning once they're on their way, but the mild surprise doesn't really show on her face. ]

Not too much? If they're hiding something from me, either they're acting on orders directly from my father or another army general, or they're running some scheme they think will help me but don't want me to know about.

[ those are the only two options in the realm of actual possibility, and the latter option is a stretch. the Yetis colluding against her is reserved for situations like surprise birthday parties or tricking her into going out to clubs, not acting shifty in a war zone. ]

It seems more like the latter option, doesn't it?

[Because Talulah can't think of what Yelena's father could be hiding from her at this juncture that would require the squad running interference. Anything Talulah shouldn't or doesn't know about would have to do with Ursus politics only, more than likely.

But she does get the implication that "scheme" in this instance is likely something completely harmless.]

Mm, if it is a prank, do I get to say you brought that on yourself?

That's what I'm hoping. I know how to deal with that.

[ someone on the same rung as her moving behind her back is a scenario she'd prefer not to consider. the Yetis acting on their own, borne out of worry for her, is familiar ground to tread. with the Ursus army now actively occupying most of northern Victorian, they must see the writing on the wall. things are going to start to move quickly from here on out, and if their remarkably good luck is going to sour, that shift will come soon.

what Talulah says next is a good distraction from that thorny topic. Yelena glances at her side-long, her brow raising slightly as her tone takes on a shade of mock-offense. ]

Huh? I thought we called that even. Don't tell me the leader of the rebellion's pride is that fragile.

That's just with me. I have no idea what tricks you play on your poor squadmates.

[She laughs, lightly, teasing back in equal measure. It would be best if it's only a harmless prank. They're at a precarious time, just before they can really get a foothold to try taking on Londinium and the throne properly. If it really is unrest back in Ursus...that didn't bode well.

But she doesn't quite get an ominous feeling from either the Yetis or her own squad members. Just a strange one.]

If you're familiar enough that you know how to deal with it already, what else have they done before?

It's not something I make a habit of, I'm not a lunatic.

[ she rolls her eyes, clicking her tongue at Talulah's imagined scenario of a FrostNova who runs her squad like a cartoon character. ]

There's been a couple of times they've pulled stunts like this. The first big one happened when I was about eleven or twelve. Way too many of them tried to fake a haunting in an ambassador's residence after they found out the Leitheniens were there to pitch an arranged marriage for me.

[Talulah is, admittedly, quite startled by the mention of arranged marriage. She shouldn't be. Yelena is an heir to a very large nation that's a power player on a global scale. If they're successful, Talulah will also probably have to deal with arrangements and alliances like that.

Both thoughts discomfort her, like a sharp pebble caught in the churning flow of blood through her heart, but that's not a very productive feeling. Or one she even wants to acknowledge, with things as they are.

Instead, she focuses on another part of what Yelena's just said.]

Haunted...? I get the idea to mess up the arrangement if it's not something you wanted, but why choose that method?

[ Yelena doesn't notice Talulah's discomfort at the mention of the Leithenien's former designs on her. it's minor footnote in her life by all accounts, a bizarre side-story to her life she hasn't thought about in years. ]

You know how kids are. We watched a movie with a similar plot right before the envoys arrived. The palace always gave us a lot of leeway, but even they knew harassing a foreign visitor face to face would get them banned from the grounds.

[ which would basically mean social suicide. all of the Yetis were placed with families who could handsomely provide for them, but when one of your friends lives like literal royalty, you never want to hang out anywhere else. ]

A housekeeper caught them trying to bring in a fog machine, and that was the end of it. They never came clean about how they managed to get their hands on one, actually.

[Despite the pang the notion of arranged marraiges caused, the idea of the young Yetis trying to sneakily roll a fog machine into a room earns another laugh.]

Wow. I knew this already, but they must really care about you to go through all the effort.

[Their enthusiasm had been misplaced, but they probably noticed their big sister didn't think too well of the whole engagement talks.

Although, now that she thinks about it, is that a hint?]

...so maybe the situation now is similar. Has anything been bothering you lately? Besides house arrest, that is.

Has anything been bothering me?

[ Yelena repeats Talulah's words back to her in a tone that asks a question without asking it. she doesn't immediately see how Talulah got there from a cute anecdote about the Yetis when they were younger, and if she just wanted to know how she's been doing, Yelena would tell her. ]

They didn't have me locked up in a tower. I was bored, and I didn't know where you were, but that was the worst of it.

[ minor inconveniences compared to the grim conditions of leading the invasion of neighboring country. at least she'd had Talulah's letters as proof of her life, a welcome relief that she didn't think twice about eagerly receiving when they arrived, often in clear view of her comrades. ]

I meant if they're going behind your back now with some kind of plot like the fog machine, maybe it's for similar reasons.

[Yelena being kept behind might not have been as difficult as some other things, but she must have been frustrated. Talulah knew she would have been, no matter the reason for it.]

We'll have to think of a better way to communicate next time. It was pretty annoying to me, too, that by the time you got my letters, I'd be long gone from that position.

The entire squad would be on thin ice with me if I found out they were pulling a stunt like that during wartime.

[ which doesn't actually rule it out, no matter how much Yelena hopes it would. still, she can't think of anything that's happened to her recently that would make the Yetis hatch a scheme to her benefit. the only thing she's been whinging about with any consistency is her troubles reaching Talulah, and there's no reason that should be driving them to act out. ]

Maybe I can convince a logistics officer to let us use a long distance comms line. We wouldn't be able to talk for as long in much detail, but it would guarantee contact.

It might not be reliable all the time, either. There are arts devices that can react to each other across long distances, aren't there?

[They're mostly novelties, and they couldn't really talk, but at the very least, neither of them would be left wondering if the other is incapacitated or worse when they're apart.]

Well, anything that's faster than a letter is probably a better option, in the end.

You mean those recording devices? I've heard they can be setup to transmit over long distance.

[ it's essentially just sending voice recordings to the receiver, but the delay is significantly shorter than the time it takes to deliver a physical letter. that way she'd be able to hear Talulah's voice as well, which Yelena views as a major advantage. the letters had been nice, but ink on paper couldn't compare to speaking to her in person.

not that a recorded message would be the same as being next to Talulah, able to see the attractive angles her and feel the ambient heat of her body. it would still be closer. ]

I can look into what options we have. I've gone along with all the deployment orders I've been given since Hillock, they owe me this much.

Well, whenever you manage it, you should tell me what we end up getting from you cashing in your good behavior.

[Neither would be as good as having Yelena next to her, no, but Talulah would definitely not turn her nose up at actual voice comms, whether they're traditional or an arts trinket.

She slows her pace a little as they come to another section of the camp, spotting what appears to be a few of the Yetis still milling about.]

This is where you're supposed to be. I'm not sure exactly which tent is yours, though.

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