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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No?

[She's aware of some details for diplomacy's sake and from things the Sarkaz she knows have mentioned and talked about, but she's not aware of the real intricacies. This must be one of those.

With a bit of a sigh, she moves on from that topic. She can't say she's not curious, but digging into that can wait until they have everything else settled.

What she is aware of is Kashchey's legacy, how it lingers like the actual curse on her. And how much she's done to try and free herself from that mire, but not everyone will see or care about that.]

And if the dukes ever do figure it out, they've got a new form of leverage to use. In the immediate aftermath of their surrender, they'll use anything and everything to get back to their status quo. Including putting someone that I bet they believe they can manipulate more easily onto the throne.

Then we keep it from them as long as possible. Rushing your coronation was always part of the plan, we can do it in the next few days to block them from pushing for a different candidate.

[ not that the Dukes have anyone with a real claim to put forward. unless Alexandrina's made a fool of the rebellion and has been playing both sides all along, she's not about to throw her lot in with the people who strung up her father up stashed his body away like an unused prop.

thinking of Alexandrina brings another issue to mind. Yelena exhales a long breath, not quite sure of how best to approach this given how quickly everything's unfolded around them. ]

If you want me to act as a go-between for you and the Aslan princess, I will. You'll have to deal with her eventually, but I can be a buffer for now. [ given Clovisia's words and behavior, it's not hard to figure out which party would have a vested interest in keeping the Draco line away from what they viewed as their rightful throne. ]

That...might be for the best.

[There's quite a bit to consider with that scenario. It's not a problem if she's the one to meet with Alexandrina. But, between how it can be seen, whether the dukes will use any meeting between them as a pretext, and it being yet another thing Talulah will have to focus on in the chaotic aftermath, handing off the diplomacy to someone else is likely better.]

I don't mind doing it myself, but since you've already interacted with her and have some sort of rapport, things would likely go more smoothly. Not to mention, I still have to navigate everything involving Tara.

... sure. I can leave that to you.

[ Yelena's expression twitches as she tries very hard not to let it slide into a grimace. she'd rather not discuss Eblana Dublinn, even as her ship is likely still stationed just beyond the city walls. a feeling in her gut tells her the red dragon of Tara isn't going to show much regard for Talulah, crown or no, but she has to start giving the official ruler of Victoria the time of day eventually, right? ]

After we get control of the radio and put out official announcements, messages from everyone watching us will start to come in. This is probably your best chance to rest before that.

[Talulah would also rather not speak to or even acknowledge Eblana Dublinn, but it is inevitable. There's no way to be a descendant of the Draco line, sit on Victoria's throne, and not address Tara. Although if Eblana ignores her still, there's always Loughshinny. She seemed misguided back in County Hillock, no question, but certainly more reasonable and... even-keeled than her older sister.]

I know. I've been bracing myself for it. Did you want to contact your father before that? It's why I asked them to set up an encrypted channel.

Yeah. I asked the engineers to come find me as soon as they can get a stable line to him.

[ with the adrenaline wearing thin, the looming sense of dread Yelena felt earlier comes creeping back. her father doesn't have a soft touch in regards to matters of war, and she'll be getting a cold tally of their total losses once he's been assured that she's safe. barring a miracle, there will people she knows in final count. her hands clench slowly, and she allows a little ice to settle in her veins. doesn't know if she can bear the shame of crying when she hears the name of someone who died in a war she started. ]

I'll need to tell him about Clovisia too. He's never talked about the Aslan kings like he was that familiar with any of them, but he's seen plenty, and he knows about things that get turned into fairy tales when enough time passes.

He at least might have more insight about what to do with the dukes.

[This is, ultimately, Talulah's war. Yelena agreed and went along with it, but all this would have turned out differently had they not agreed to meet in those Gaulish ruins.

Looking behind her to the past has lately felt like peering into a deep ravine so dark she can't see the bottom. She can't linger on thoughts like that for long.]

I'll go see what else needs my attention whenever the engineers have done their work. We can meet up for a debrief later. Or whenever the other squads get here.

Okay. We can catch up then.

[ Yelena gives a nod of assent, satisfied with their plan of action for the immediate future. it's best to take things one step at a time— spiraling about the infinite number of possible repercussions to their meeting with the strange girl won't help either of them right now.

quite some time later, Yelena's not as sure about when she'll be speaking to Talulah again.

she's here on her invitation, but what does that really mean? Talulah's here on business, navigating the relationship between Siesta and Lungmen and Victoria's new leadership, and Yelena's only present as a guest. it's hardly unusual for royalty to take vacations to a country known as a tropical paradise, but Yelena's known for a while that she wasn't raised like a typical princess. holiday trips for her meant going out to a country estate or visiting the Urtica spire in Leithenien. the biggest tourist hotpot on Terra is a far cry from either of those.

in the lobby of what she suspects is the most exclusive hotel in the entire city-state, Yelena eyes her phone screen as the receptionist continues to prattle on about the amenities and services available to her. she's sure the staff have been thoroughly instructed on how rare it is for the princess of Ursus to patronize such establishments, and the huge boost to their reputation her presence alone will give them. her guards have already started setting up their rooms, including carrying her luggage, and she's lingering at the front desk more out of indecision than an interest in the hotel's full-service spa.

the message she shot off to Talulah when her car first pulled up to the building is marked as read, though she hasn't gotten a response yet. Yelena hasn't seen her in person since the new Victorian state began taking its first tentative steps forward after the coronation, and complicated mix of emotions came with the offer to travel overseas to meet her. there's a ... phenomenon, Yelena's familiar with, of people growing close bonds during wartime that don't translate to much afterward. you have a connection nothing can ever break or replace, but you're not exactly friends afterward. plenty of her father's highest officers would die for one another, but can't stand to be in the same room for too long. no small part of her wonders if she and Talulah will turn out the same.

Would you like directions to the shopping district? We have a variety of boutiques to rival any big city. the manager's voice draws her back to the present. if Yelena cared about that sort of thing, she might take it as a dig at how she's dressed— an oversized hoodie that completely covers her running shorts, with a baseball cap over her loose hair and socks under her slides. they probably assume it's her uniform for traveling incognito, and not the only type of clothing she has for summer weather. ]

Yes, please. I'll need to go pick up a few things later.

[The Siesta trip is technically business. The city-state, Columbia, and Victoria all have some history, and Talulah thinks it's good to show some initial goodwill so nobody thinks they're getting snubbed. This is also partly Beatrix's doing, and it would be best to maintain as cordial a relationship with Lungmen as possible...under the circumstances.

Her current advisors lament daily the tightrope she, and by extension Victoria, must walk. After such a brutal expansionist policy and their main political tool being force, no one in the higher positions of the government is used to more diplomatic methods. But as inexperienced as she is with state affairs like this, her instincts tell her there are many inside and outside of the country who are just waiting for an opportunity to strike. Weaknesses caused by spreading themselves too thin or giving the wrong nation a good excuse for retaliation need to be avoided as much as possible.

However.

This is a vacation. She'd been going nonstop since the coronation, and while it's understandable as to why that is, it's also a fact that if she spends much more time trapped inside in foggy Londinium, she might actually go insane. Most of those close to her agreed that a short trip to somewhere like Siesta, where Victoria already had an interest, would solve both issues.

And, since the invitation included as many guests as she wanted, why wouldn't she invite Yelena? They hadn't seen each other since that day at the Palace. Other ways of communication worked, sure, but it's difficult to make time for long conversations when both of them have been so busy. Although...while she doesn't think it's the case, she does hope Yelena didn't agree out of obligation, somehow.

She'd been in the middle of wrapping up with some of the Siesta representatives and putting a polite bookend on all the politics when she got the text. It's several moments later before the final goodbyes are made, she gets back to her room to change, and she can finally reply be right there as she makes her way to the elevator that will lead to the lobby.

One of her guards gets in with her, but after they reach the right floor, she peels off to keep an eye on things at a distance. Talulah really chafed at having to be followed so much, but as much as she didn't like groups like the Umbrellas or Caster's Trilbies, she did take one single page from their books, and that's to make her retinue like shadows.

When she finally spots Yelena by the desk, a jumbled swirl of emotions bubbles up. Excitement and happiness, of course, something warmer she's gotten used to dismissing and ignoring, but there's also just a hint of nervousness. She considers Yelena her friend, but because they hadn't really seen each other after the war, their roles outside of it feel undefined, a bit. She's not entirely sure how to act, but Yelena isn't one of those representatives or even one of her advisors. If they are friends, she should forgive any harmless missteps, right?]

Long time no see.

[Talulah slips in beside Yelena at the service counter. She remembers that hug when they reunited at the Palace...but that had been fueled by battle adrenaline and relief. So it's not something to startle Yelena with when she's paying attention to the receptionist, Talulah reasons. Their shoulders bumping from the motion of her getting close will have to do.

Despite her clothes being her preferred monochrome, her outfit is a little more summery, with shorts at a fashionably tiny length, sandals, and a sheer, flowy linen shirt over her top. There are also mirrored sunglasses and a cap tucked halfway into her pockets.]

[ the brush of warmth against her shoulder makes Yelena's heart jump in her chest, ears swiveling in the direction of a familiar voice. ]

Talulah. Hey.

[ Yelena will greet her friends with a hug on an occasion, usually initiated by the other party, but not always. one of her hands starts to lift automatically before she second guesses herself, turning it into an awkward little wave at the last second. it's probably best to wait and see what Talulah seems comfortable with instead of risking a move that could be unwanted. ]

Are you working still? We can meet up later if you're busy. [ judging by the way she's dressed, though, maybe not? Yelena can feel more heat creeping up her neck as her gaze lingers a few seconds too long on Talulah's legs, eyes darting away a moment later. ]

No, I just finished. It's why I couldn't reply to your message right away.

[Talulah smiles at Yelena's return greeting and leans more against the counter. She also notices the way the other's gaze is flitting around, but she's not entirely sure about the cause. Her outfit isn't what she usually wears, so maybe that's it.]

So we can hang out if you're not too tired from the trip over here.

[ an unexpected wave of relief washes over Yelena after hearing Talulah's offer. she's been not so subtly fixated on what Talulah meant by her invitation; it's a kind gesture, obviously, but she hadn't been sure if Talulah's company came with it. this is partially a work trip for her, and this may be one of only a few times where Talulah's free from her responsibilities, but Yelena's still comforted by the offer. ]

No, I slept most of the way. Have you eaten? I was going to get lunch, if you wanted to come along.

[ under most circumstances Yelena's poker face is unshakeable, an act that's almost second nature to her, which could be why she doesn't seem to notice her ears flattening back as she speaks. ]

Sure, lunch sounds good.

[She does notice the other's ears going back and that's...weird, isn't it? She hasn't really known Yelena to emote like that, and Talulah wonders if she has misstepped somehow. On the other hand, Yelena is also straightforward and has never had a problem telling Talulah when she's messed up before. So she doesn't bring any more attention to it.]

The hotel's restaurant is pretty good, but do you want to get some in the city? I actually haven't had a chance to explore much yet.

That was my plan. I'll never hear the end of it if everyone back home thinks I spent this trip hanging out in the hotel.

[ she says in a tone that indicates she received some well meaning, but very real threats over the possibility. Yelena gets it, even if it seems like she should be the one who decides how to best spend her vacation time. ]

I can leave whenever. My security won't bother us unless they spot something dangerous or need me to settle an argument.

[ with the amount of guests and staff milling around them in the lobby, it's hard to tell where it comes from, but Talulah might catch the sound of a laugh half-disguised as a cough from the sidelines. ]

Is that what you usually do on vacation?

[Not that Talulah really has much experience in resort towns, either, but she personally is glad for a reprieve from being cooped up in the hotel when it seems as though there are many more interesting things in the town. Not to mention, the frankly ridiculously sized pool attached to her suite got old faster than she expected.

Now that they've decided to go outside, Talulah moves to put on her hat and sunglasses. She hears that sound the moment she finishes, and looks around curiously, before turning her attention back to Yelena.]

Mine will pretty much do the same, so we can go right now. Are you in the mood for anything in particular?

The seafood here's supposed to be good, right? I'm not picky, as long it's someplace I can get a coffee or tea.

[ Yelena pulls the brim of her hat down more as they exit the temperate lobby head out into the sunny afternoon. their hotel is in a prime location with a picturesque beach a few minutes one way and an upscale entertainment district in the other. several of her friends recommended places to eat, but the ones who have been to Siesta before are from noble or rich families, and mostly rave about restaurants that have had viral moments on social media. ]

I don't mind eating and walking either, I haven't gotten a chance to stretch my legs too much since we landed.

[ a wayward ocean breeze ruffles Yelena's hair, still worn down and loose. the heat of this place barely registers to her, but the humidity is another matter. she'll probably have to put it up once they get into the shade again— she'd been reminded no less than a dozen times about how easily she sunburns before the trip. ]

There's a lot of stuff like Colombian-style diners, too.

[From the brief glances Talulah had gotten from the cars she's ridden in and the recommendations from the staff and representatives.

The heat and humidity are strong, but Talulah's just happy to be out of the hotel and into the sun, finally.]

How about we walk around until we see someplace with nice patio seating? Everyone keeps raving about the views of the water and the old volcano. Might as well enjoy them while we eat.

Colombian food ... they do burgers and lots of sweet stuff, right?

[ that's the stereotype, anyway, which is most of what Yelena has to off of. Colombian immigrants aren't common in Ursus, and besides chain restaurants, she's never tried much of it.

Talulah's suggestion of walking until they find somewhere with a nice view and good outdoor seating sounds reasonable, and Yelena hums in assent, turning her attention to picking out a place that meets those requirements.

that becomes significantly harder to do as the sidewalk fills up with other tourists. there must be some event that's beginning or ending, because within the span of a block, the foot traffic around them balloons to a sea of people. Yelena doesn't jump to any wild conclusions yet, but there's a real chance of losing track of Talulah in the increasingly packed crowd. without thinking, she slips her arm into Talulah's to lock them together, a move she's used with friends a million times before. ]

We should cross the street. There's less people on that side.

And barbecue.

[The moment Talulah also begins to worry she might lose Yelena in this sudden surge of people is the same moment she feels Yelena link their arms together. She's startled for a beat, mostly because she hadn't been expecting it, but she reciprocates easily by adjusting her arm so they're both comfortable as they walk.

It's always nice when she's able to be close to Yelena, and besides that, it's a little nostalgic. She did this with her schoolmates when she was much younger.]

Sure. [She moves through the crowd to hop off the sidewalk and cross the street when there aren't any big box trucks or convertibles flying by. Yelena is faintly cool to the touch, even through the barrier of her sweatshirt.] I can't believe it's taken me this long to ask, but has anyone ever forced you to be their portable air conditioner or cooler before?

[ with the heavy foot and vehicle traffic, it seems reasonable to keep her loose hold on Talulah for a little while longer after they're able to cross the street. up they can start to see the source of the sudden crowd, a tiny stage being broken down while a band signs various items their fans thrust at them over the arms of bodyguards. they look vaguely familiar, but Yelena's attention is redirected by Talulah's question. ]

Most buildings in Ursus don't have air conditioning. [ it's not that common in Victoria either. Talulah was born in Lungmen though, and Yelena's heard about how miserably humid it gets there. ]

If we need to cool something off, we throw it outside. I'm only useful as an emergency cold compress for injuries and fevers.

And here I thought I could commiserate over being used when nobody has a light.

[Talulah doesn't sound that put out about it, and she also doesn't move to let go of Yelena's arm, even if the street they're on is now comparatively much less crowded.

She squints in the direction of the makeshift stage and the band, and to the swell of people now roaming off to find the next exciting thing.]

It's hard to imagine, but it's apparently going to get even more lively here at night.

Yours sounds like a better party trick.

[ and nice move to pull on someone you're flirting with. Yelena regrets that thought immediately, stomach twisting like she swallowed a moldy heel of bread when her imagination unhelpfully conjures the image of Talulah leaning in to offer a flame to another bored young noble at a stuffy Victorian social event. whether or not Talulah has used her arts like that is none of her business, and if she tightens the link of their arms a little, there's no deeper meaning behind it. ]

Hm? Oh, yeah, I heard that too. [ she's delayed a few seconds in response, failing to recover from her inane daydream in time to seem unaffected. ]

I got around a dozen recommendations for bars and clubs when I asked people back home. I was kind of surprised— we do that in Ursus all the time, just with shittier weather.

You think so?

[She's not sure what to make of the obvious lull in conversation. She doesn't think what she said had been that odd, right?

She also doesn't know what to make of Yelena mentioning that she's gone to those bars and clubs all the time, either. It's her prerogative, of course, but it's a lot easier to get close and intimate with someone at a place like that than with a little arts trick.

Talulah is not going to think about that, or the very obvious logic of what it means if she goes to a club or bar with Yelena now. This trip is meant to take away some of the stress that's been steadily accumulating. If she goes back to Lodinium worse off than when she left, she'd never hear the end of it. So, all she does is unconsciously follow the tug of Yelena's arm and shift a little closer.]

Well, maybe there's something to it if you got all those recommendations. Did any of them sound interesting?

[ fortunately or unfortunately for Talulah, Yelena doesn't think she's revealed anything especially notable. young people with a modicum of disposable income who find themselves living through an Ursus winter have limited options for passing the time, and inevitably fall into that age old tradition of getting wasted with their friends at various alcohol distributing establishments. Yelena doesn't actively seek it out, but she doesn't hate it either, and has long resigned herself to being dragged along as an express pass to skip the line whenever her friends want to go out. ]

They mostly sounded gimmicky to me, but there were a few ... one of those famous hot springs has a bar in the spring, I guess, which could be fun.

[ she's still unsure of how much Talulah plans to split her time between work and play, and whether she'd want to spend her precious free time checking off tourist attractions with her. Yelena's past the point of denying that she's hungry for Talulah's attention, and that's— not that abnormal between friends is it? she'd do the same if she were here with some of the Yetis. yeah, it's probably fine. ]

Why? Did you want to check them out?

Yeah. It'd be a shame not to while I'm here, right?

[Mostly, she just wants to spend her free time with Yelena, be that at a tourist trap or elsewhere. It's not the entire reason she invited her on this trip, but it's definitely a major reason.

The road they're on is drawing closer to the water, and at the end of the block, Talulah sees a two-story building with pretty flowering vines along parts of the wall and balcony railing. Promising, if it turns out to be a restaurant or cafe.]

The hot springs sound kind of fun. I would've suggested the fireworks on the beach, but that's guaranteed to be too crowded.

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