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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"Defrost"? What am I, your dinner?

[ Yelena's complaint doesn't have any teeth behind it, but she tenses when Talulah moves closer to her. unbidden, the conversation she'd had with a few of the senior Yetis replays in her mind, the looks they'd exchanged between each other as FrostNova had pressed them to explain their recent behavior. she'd been mortified after that exchange, storming away from the campfire with her face burning red. Yelena hadn't been treating Talulah any particular way, had she? even if she was— was there anything so wrong with that?

she shouldn't be thinking about this right now. taking a sudden step forward, her knee wobbles questionably as soon as she tries to shift her weight to it. her hand shoots out to grab onto something nearby— which can only be Talulah, who moved into range just to let her do something like this. ]

—sorry. I don't think I was resting for too long.

Do you have a better word for it?

[Talulah tips her head to the side, thinking that's a pretty apt description of what Yelena has to do when she overdoes it on her arts. Before she can make any other quip about it, though, she sees Yelena lose her balance and is already offering her hand in case the other needs more support than her shoulder. It's a thoughtless action, the same as her moving closer in the first place.

And maybe it shouldn't be so easy or instinctual, but Talulah isn't about to ponder over that when they're this close to their goal.

Thankfully, she also doesn't have the same knowlege as Yelena about the Yetis' thoughts, so she just peers over her shoulder at the small compound of buildings and one communications tower they turned into a temporary base, judging the distance.]

It's fine. Are you good for a short walk? Then you can actually take a break.

[ she doesn't dignify that first question with an answer, complaining more on principal than a sincere objection to the phrasing. the hand Talulah conjures up another memory of the time she'd made a fool of herself in the Hillock base. Yelena had been much colder then, without the small buffer of however long she'd been carried through Londinium's underground between the peak of her arts usage and now.

remembering the feeling of clutching at Talulah's hands fills her with an odd, impatient tension, the same kind that hounds her whenever she thinks too hard about Talulah in general. part of Yelena already knows what this, but she's stubborn to a fault. if she acknowledges it, it becomes real, along with the harm it can do.

Yelena releases Talulah's shoulder, reaching down take her hand instead, allowing only the barest flicker of emotion to cross her features. ]

I'll be fine. Let's go.

[Talulah nods, taking Yelena's word for it, but her pace is rather sedate as she leads the other into one of the buildings and into a room just off the entrance.

It's a simple one, with just a cot, chairs, and a table. The scattered papers and maps suggest that this is the spot Talulah had been using as her temporary break room. There are plenty of other places she could have brought Yelena, but nowhere else where she could count on at least a little bit of time alone without interruptions. Barring emergencies, that is.]

You can sleep if you need a nap. There's water and rations, too. Did you just overdo it, or are you injured, too?

[ she allows herself to be lead along without any fuss, making no comment on the careful pace Talulah sets for them. when they reach their destination, Yelena finds herself hesitating as she looks around at the seating options. the warmth of Talulah's arts is stronger through physical contact, and she hesitates to relinquish that connection, but there's no point in delaying the inevitable.

lowering herself into a worn chair, Yelena only releases Talulah's hand when she's fully off her feet. ]

I got knocked around a couple times, but nothing serious. The rebels didn't need to be told that keeping me covered keeps the rest of them alive.

And these were the ones with the Aslan heir? How did that go, by the way? We only heard the mission was a success.

[Talulah would have kept holding Yelena’s hand, if she knew just how much it had been helping. Instead, she thinks things like getting the other a flask of water and dried fruit, before sitting in the seat beside her.]

…and where’s the rest of your squad? I don’t think I saw that many Yetis with you.

Some of them are. Most of the rebels we found with Alexandrina Victoria went with her to the main body of our forces. I sent the other Yetis to make sure they made it there.

[ there's nothing untrue about that statement. if she had been with the whole of her squad, it would mean she sent nearly the entire unit to escort the Victorian princess, and she won't hurry to correct Talulah if she assumes as much.

she eyes the provisions set before her, but doesn't make a move to take them. Yelena's still in that odd, in-between place of having too little rest after hitting the point of exhaustion. which means she should eat and drink something before her body catches up with her, but that would be a waste of what little time she has with Talulah. ]

As for the mission ... she claims she doesn't want the throne. I can't make a judgment call on how truthful that is, but she'd been playing hard to get with at least one other faction who wants to put the crown on her. She told me she doesn't want anyone to take the title— but there's a path forward for the common people with you, and she renounced her claim in front of a dozen witnesses, so she's under my protection for now.

[Talulah sighs a little and presses a hand breifly to her forehead. If only it is that easy to leave the Victorian throne empty. She'd thought of it again and again, but she couldn't see a way out of the resulting power vacuum undoing everything she fought for in the first place.]

That sounds about accurate from what our intel said about her. Some of the nobles aren't going to be happy about any of that, but they can complain after.

[They'll suggest Talulah eliminate any loose ends, but if they manage all of this, she'll certainly have some leverage pointing out she doesn't want to start her new rule with a total and bloody purge.]

Did you notice anything else on the way here? We're trying to coordinate simultaneous attack with the allied nobles and all other nearby squads, but someone is jamming most communications.

[ Yelena's well aware of the risks that come with taking in the Aslan heir. even if Alexandrina is sincere in forfeiting her claim, her existence will be enough fuel the ambitions of present and future opposition groups. but from what FrostNova saw, the woman is sincere. she had months to mount her own claim or cut a deal with the dukes, and kept herself hidden instead.

speaking of which— ]

If you're sure the dukes aren't behind it, it might be the faction that Feist, the guy who carried me in, was with. There's been an underground resistance based in Londinium for years, and I guess they were planning to put Vina—Alexandrina, forth as the true heir as soon as the ducal forces made a major blunder.

[ the fact that she'd come clean about the proposal to Yelena without much prompting makes her think the resistance corp wasn't built for the Aslan princess, but around her. ]

Seems like we moved faster than they were expecting. She convinced the ones she had with her to ally with us, but there have to be more out there who don't know she made that call ... or don't want to believe it.

Hm. If that's a possibility, I wonder if there's some sort of message we can get out now that we have that group here. I'd rather not send out anyone on these streets if I can help it.

[Things are rather tense, and there's no telling what factions are thinking or planning at this juncture. Sending out a scouting party to search for a rebel base that may or may not be manned isn't something she wants to risk unless there's no other choice.

She should at least go convey this information she's learned. Even if Fiest and the others need more of a break, they can at least start brainstorming and sharing intel.

But...she doesn't really want to leave Yelena. Honestly, she's a little worried that the other has overdone it more than she's letting on, and on top of that, Talulah knows in the very core of her heart that this is one of the last moments like this she has. After it all, if they win...she'll have another kind of sword hanging over her head.]

We also might get away with just strengthening the signal here. There are engineers working on that now.

The Londinium faction had their own comms running through a hidden network. It was out by the time we got to the group in the factory, but they might be able to re-establish the connection.

[ without the threat of the Victorian military banging down their door, repairs will probably go a lot faster.

Yelena's become accustomed to navigating the rhythm of war, keeping tally of resources and men and what they can and can't afford to trade away. her personal thoughts are murkier, darkened around the edges by mounting exhaustion. she hasn't been awake, pushing herself this hard, for a long, long time. sleep means staving off total collapse, but it also means giving up the thing she really cares about. ]

How have you been? [ 'with things here', she thinks to add, but doesn't. Talulah might take it that way, and that's fine. Yelena finds herself wanting to hear anything she has to offer, even if it's just more babble about munition stocks or territory lines. ]

[Talulah's first instinct at that question is to laugh. She doesn't even begin to know how she'll answer that. Beneath all of the necessity, beneath all of the constant thoughts of plans, and how to outmaneuver the nobles, and contingencies, she hasn't really given a thought to how she feels. Or...some of it she has, but those thoughts are a dangerous trap this close to the end.

She does need to answer, though, and maybe if this had been anyone else besides Yelena, she would have played more of the leader. But Yelena is different. A friend and partner and equal in addition to being an ally. While Talulah is still only Talulah, she can probably afford to be just a tiny bit more honest.]

I'm fine, and I'm not injured, or anything...but is it bad that I think this fight is going to be easier than putting on that crown?

No. It's the truth.

[ leaning wearily against the table, Yelena props her chin up in her palm, eyes cast down. ]

One way or another, there will be an end to this fight. Once you take the throne ... that's the rest of your life.

[ the life you pleaded with me for, she doesn't say aloud. with their victory seeming more tangible by the day, the conversations going around through Ursus' high command have taken on a different tone. there were always expectations put on FrostNova, but the weight behind is gradually beginning to drag her down. they look to her now as a true player in the greater game of politics, the lowborn princess who may have instigated a total regime change in one of the most power countries on Terra.

the phrasing of that letter Eblana Dublinn sent her rises in her memory— naming her as the master holding Talulah's leash. in a twisted way, she's beginning to suspect that the woman's ramblings might not be far from what the rest of Ursus wants from her. ]

I know. But I'll finish what I started.

[She couldn't have known back when she spent so much effort to get Yelena, and by extension Ursus, on her side that her emotions would be like...this now. But that didn't mean she's allowed to second-guess herself now, of all times.

And while "leash" possibly isn't the word Talulah would use, it's undeniable that Yelena has her trust, and her opinion holds significant weight. If they make it through this and Talulah does take the throne, Ursus will have a level of esteem from the new leader of Victoria that other nations couldn't dream of in their wildest fantasies.]

I couldn't live with myself if all your effort was for nothing, either. I promise.

It wasn't just my effort.

[ Yelena insists it, but even to her own ears, it rings a bit hollow. she remembers that night in a sad little field where Talulah's blood flowed in rivers down her arm, onto Yelena's hands as she ripped up whatever fabric they could spare to staunch the wound. how many rebels can say they cared for Talulah like that?

a pang of guilt quickly follows the thought— people have died for this. more will likely follow before the day is through, both willful combatants and those caught in the crossfire. she took this up because the cost Talulah presented to them then outweighed what they might pay in the future, a careful balance of risk and reward, so what gives her the right to feel this ... possessive, over where the credit lies for Talulah's ascension?

she tries to evade the feeling with one of her usual barbs, but it comes out sounding more sullen than sarcastic. ]

If you were having second thoughts this late into things, I'd drag you into the palace myself.

See, that's what I mean.

[Yelena can definitely feel at least a little possessive about how much Talulah likes her. And that has nothing to do with anything besides the two of them.]

Besides, I still have to prove you wrong when you said all of my ideas were pipe dreams, right? I definitely can't stop now if I want to do that.

[Although...even if Yelena said that at the start, she's the one who first believed in Talulah so wholeheartedly. Betraying that trust feels unthinkable at this point.]

What? Are you saying "you couldn't live with yourself" means "I couldn't live with what FrostNova would do to me"?

[ she scoffs, ignoring the persistent itch building at the back of her throat. it's been a while since she's cast this much, and should probably focusing on rest rather than chatting up Talulah. Yelena drops her free hand down to her jacket, digging into a pocket to feel out one of her candies. ]

I'm starting to feel like I'm the only person my age who isn't blindly optimistic. Between you, the Aslan princess, and whatever Loughshinny Dublinn is doing—

[ the cough hits her before she manages to peel back the candy wrapper. she moves quickly to cover her mouth, shoulders shaking as her body attempts to expel the ice loosened from her lungs that results in wet, ugly noises. ]

[Talulah is about to come back with some remark about what Yelena's just said when the coughing starts, and she practically startles out of her chair. She does end up half-kneeling in front of Yelena, one hand on her back in an instinctual motion to soothe her.]

Yelena?! Nod if you need a medic.

[She's going to be really annoyed if the other had been injured this whole time and hadn't told her. Or, probably, Talulah will be more annoyed that she hadn't noticed at all.]

[ even with her coughing fit, Yelena's quick to shake her head when Talulah asks about a medic. she's not injured, just exhausted, and that looks different for her compared to other people. ]

It's— fine. [ she lifts her hand away from her mouth, revealing the palm
of glove soaked through with water. ]

Like you said, I'm still "defrosting".

[There’s a slightly bizarre moment when Talulah’s mind expects to see red coating Yelena’s palm only for there to be nothing but water, but it’s only a small blip. Soon, she’s sending more warmth down the connection of their arts bond.]

You should have mentioned you needed some more help with that, instead of letting me sit and talk at you all this time.

Sorry for the inconvenience. [ she mutters, managing to keep a tinge of brusqueness to her tone despite the pain in her chest.

Yelena shivers when Talulah pushes more of her arts through the incorporeal link between them, her next exhale coming out as a miniature puff of steam. the relief Talulah's capable of giving her is so immediate, part of Yelena can never completely shake the feeling that it's too good to be true. she can't get used to it, no matter how eager Talulah seems to offer her assistance. it spurs on thoughts Yelena shouldn't be humoring, not about someone like Talulah, who extends the same sort of kindness and care to everyone she meets.

there's no getting around the reality of their situation. Yelena knows this, yet still finds herself falling victim to childish impulse. ]

If you want to speed things up, pull your chair over here. Close proximity help.

It’s not one.

[Talulah pulls the chair over with her foot before sitting back down on it, now close enough she’s pressed up against Yelena’s side.

She is the type of person to care for everyone, to try to understand everyone’s reasons for living, understand their actions. But she doesn’t feel nearly the same pull as she does for Yelena, the desire to always be like this, side-by-side. That…won’t be possible with their positions. This she also knows. But she does have this moment.

Softly, she reaches out to take the other’s hand.]

Is that better?

[ it's a slightly surreal experience to get what you want, but not what you expected. Yelena's eyes widen as Talulah sidles up to her, complying on instinct when she reaches to take her hand. there was a thought she had back at the rebel camp, after she'd found her spot among the the Yetis in their tents— that when Talulah had first urged her to sleep, she could've asked to share her bed.

Yelena felt mortified in the moment, and her shame hardly improved after she discovered the assumptions her squad her squad had been working under. it was a betrayal of Talulah's generosity toward her, she'd thought, a toxic daydream that would bring her nothing tangible in the harsh light of reality.

still. it's difficult not to entertain those ideas again when Talulah complies like this, forcing Yelena to bite her cheek and banish the flush trying to spring onto her face. she can write that off as being a side-effect of Talulah's heat. hopefully. what she does next, letting her greed win out again, is harder to explain away. ]

Yeah. Thank you. [ she shifts her weight to lean against Talulah, letting her head drop to rest on her shoulder. ]

Good.

[Talulah probably should mention to Yelena that she can use the bed if she’s that tired. Even the bare-bones cots they have here should be more comfortable than Talulah’s shoulder, but she doesn’t really want Yelena to move.

Paradoxically, Talulah feels both more of the weight of their future reality bearing down and lighter than ever with Yelena so close. She really does think she can do anything at all if Yelena has her back, and the prospect of their fight she still has to face is suddenly less daunting.

It’s fine if she also closes her eyes for a moment, tips her head just enough to feel the tickle of Yelena’s hair against her cheek.]

Take as much time as you need.

That could be a while.

[ Yelena murmurs, quiet enough that Talulah would struggle to hear it if she were any further away. her ears droop slightly, velvet fur tickling the side of Talulah's face. even if she were offered the cot, Yelena wouldn't want to move— the warmth she can steal in moments like this does more for her than any length of rest could.

the comfort is addicting. rather than thinking about how they'll overcome what lies ahead, Yelena conscious narrows down to the dusty little space they've tucked themselves into. she wants to keep Talulah here for herself, but it's a futile wish— one she'll have to put away, before she truly ruins something. ]

For whatever it's worth, I'm not worried about how you'll choose to handle things. If you convinced me, winning over everyone who still wants you dead will be easy.

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