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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[ 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.

Okay. Let me know when you're free.

[ Yelena's expressions can be hard to read, minor shifts in a clear sky that could portend an oncoming storm or nothing of note, but the slight smile that tugs at her lips is impossible to mistake. ]

I do want to check out the beaches ... but that has to wait until tomorrow. My swimsuit's kind of old, and when my stylist found out she begged me to get a new one. [ she doesn't personally see what's so bad about her basic one-piece, even if it is from her senior years of secondary school. ] And some "actual vacation clothes". She leaves me alone most of the time, so I promised I'd take care of it before I went anywhere too public.

I'm free this evening if you want, but...you're saying you don't have anything to wear?

[Talulah doesn't have all that much room to speak when it comes to fashion. She just told the right palace staff and the tailor what she preferred, and her outfits had been coordinated and made up for her, swimsuit included.]

Okay, shopping can be our activity after lunch. Speaking of, does this place look good?

[The building Talulah spotted before does turn out to be a restaurant, complete with open-air balcony seating that appears to have a perfect waterfront view.]

I brought plenty of clothes. It's the crown's public relations people who've been on my case to look a certain way when I'm in public lately.

[ ever since grand dukes of Victoria officially surrendered, the attention Yelena's gotten both inside and outside of Ursus' has skyrocketed. she'd been a curiosity with potential to some global players before, and now those who wrote her off as Buldrokkas'tee's charity case have been forced to reassess their views.

which has partially translated to getting scolded about going around a resort town dressed like a gym rat.

she also doesn't entirely get why Talulah would want to come shopping with her, but she's not about to turn her down. it might go faster with two people anyway. ]

Yeah, this looks fine. [ the menu displayed on a board out front isn't very long, which means they're not trying to pad it out to attract the most people, and they offer iced coffee and a few tea drinks. ]

A certain way? Sounds like the same thing as when my staff tells me I should be wearing seasonal colors.

[Meanwhile, Talulah's now in an even better mood than the nice weather and being free from playing politics for a little while brought on. The prospect of helping Yelena pick out clothes feels...nice, for a reason she can't put her finger on. Maybe it's because it's something she's aware friends often do, but she's never really gotten the chance herself.

Regardless, there is luckily a table free when Talulah asks about it, and the chipper zalak server leads them up the set of stairs in the restaurant that leads to the balcony seating. She leaves them with menus, promising to be back in a few minutes, before disappearing into the restaurant's main building again. Talulah briefly ignores those to look out over the water and the rest of the city.]

Hm. Maybe this does live up to all the talk.

[ Yelena slides into her seat and places her order the same quick efficiency she applies to everything else in her life. after the waitress leaves them, her attention wanders to the views around them. picture perfect blue skies dotted by fluffy white clouds, ocean waves rolling in the distance, colorful buildings crowded together like party-goers in a packed festival— you can't get more idyllic than this. ]

Can't say I've ever seen anything like this. Not outside of a movie.

[ the wind picks up again, reminding Yelena of her earlier plans. she takes her hat off and pulls a hair tie from her pocket, fingers going to brush back the long strands into a ponytail. ]

Have you been stuck inside a lot? Diplomatic meetings can drag on for hours.

Yes. Practically since I got here.

[It had been exhausting not only to listen to everyone chat about nothing much at length but also field the subtle and not-so-subtle attempts at sussing out where Victoria's new queen stood on certain matters. And if Talulah could be easily swayed to another side. The price of being the ruler of a world superpower, she supposes.

The memory of being cooped up in conference rooms and offices is becoming less of an issue the more time she spends in the sun and sea breeze, thankfully.]

But things seem to be going well enough, so far. I hope you haven't been as busy as I have.

No. I've had a lot of down time recently.

[ with the bulk of Ursus' forces withdrawn from Victoria, Yelena's role as a commander had come to an end. the official word is that she's being granted a well deserved rest, and that's not untrue, but everyone closer to the royal family of Ursus knows it's more about the losses Ursus suffered during the final push.

several of the Yetis Yelena had left behind perished during the march into Londinium. the presence of her father on the field had sent several Victorian generals into a spiral, issuing suicide orders to their men to destroy as much of the city as possible before the invading forces could take it. the resulting chaos claimed the lives of soldiers on both sides, many of whom defied orders trying to prevent the destruction and save lives. her friends, born with her on a squalid little spot of land in the far tundra, had died heroes. in a way, all of the Yetis who hailed from that pit were living on borrowed time. they were supposed to die as children, and instead found themselves living the kinds of lives their families wouldn't dare imagine.

the dream simply ended. that doesn't make it hurt any less. ]

But ... I think it's fine if I tell you, since they would've sent the message to your people by now. [ she pulls her hat back on, movements a little more subdued than before. ]

I'm being put forward as the primary candidate for our Victorian diplomat. If your office approves it, I'm moving to Londinium after my trip here ends.

[After the dust had started to settle, Talulah had been thoroughly briefed on the losses from all sides. It didn't take much for her to tally who had taken the biggest hits, and the implications.

Dreams and ambitions like Talulah's don't come without sacrifices. This she knows, and it isn't something she can afford to regret when she's sitting on the throne now. But she can't forget, either the lives snuffed out in the name of her ideals or the debt she feels she can't ever truly repay.

Speaking of such a debt, there are certain members in the Victorian government who hate nothing more than Talulah's connection to Ursus. It's nothing that's outright stymying her current efforts, but if she wants to keep having an amicable relationship with those who believed in her when no one else did, she can't ignore them either.

Of course, what Yelena mentions is enough to kick all other thoughts of politics from her mind.]

What? They could have told me before I came here.

[She smiles, brightly. It is for work and very important government goings-on, but she also couldn't stop herself from being happy at the prospect of Yelena being closer to her, no matter how hard she tries.]

I can't see why they wouldn't. [Even with the naysayers.] But I hope you know what you're getting into with the weather.

[ a strong emotion swells inside Yelena when she sees Talulah's reaction to her news. she hadn't known what to expect, but a small, irrational part of her had hoped for something similar to what's playing out in front of her.

it's a good moment for the waitress to return with their drinks, giving Yelena a few moments to recover before she blurts out an answer she'd regret later. ]

There's always some kind of review for this stuff, even if it's just for show.

[ she stirs her iced coffee with her straw, forcing herself not to go too fast and reveal how her nerves have started inexplicably fraying beneath the surface. ]

And that's why I'm here, isn't it? I'm getting one last chance to experience sunlight before they ship me off to your wet, gray city.

Don't forget about all the fog.

[Talulah drops the wedge of lime into her drink, something with coconut and citrus that she heard is popular, before taking a sip. She'd had her fill of coffee and tea from the morning meetings.]

But I'm glad to hear it. I hadn't even realized you were an option for that.

[In fact, Talulah had already assumed it would be someone older and already used to diplomacy in Victoria. Not to mention, she knows Yelena has her own responsibilities in Ursus.]

They considered a few senior diplomats first.

[ any of which would've been fine. in the end, they'd offered the position to Yelena, telling her bluntly why she'd been placed above the veterans in the administration— her strong rapport with the Victorian queen. their experienced ambassadors would have an edge in navigating the delicate political environment of modern Victoria, but none of them would have Talulah's ear like Yelena does.

she's very fond of you. they'd told her during the initial meetings. there was a look in a few of their eyes that made their message clear; if Yelena's the one asking for it, they believe Talulah will let her have her way. ]

I guess I made a good first impression on resistance factions in Londinium. And there's the situation with Tara— they thought I'd be the best one to help with that.

Well, that, and I value your opinion.

[While she doesn't know the word choice had been "fond" instead of something less...charged, she does read into the reason Yelena put forth. They worked together closely during the rebellion. She just didn't think that had so much more weight than someone who is used to walking the tightrope that is current Victorian politics.]

"Situation" is a mild way of putting that, though. It will probably help that you're up to speed on that front.

[ from what Yelena can tell, Ursus' biggest concern at the moment is ensuring they see returns on their investment. Talulah's rebel forces were nothing to sneeze at, but everyone knows having the greatest army in the world at her back is what delivered the draco queen her title. Victoria wasn't reduced to a client state like they would've been in the old empire, and for Buldrokkas'tee's endless generosity, the rest of the administration expects Talulah to think of Ursus first when it comes to any and all matters regarding foreign allies.

she's not exactly enthused about acting as a living reminder of that debt. given the circumstances, she should resent being thrust into the position, especially when it takes her so far from home. Yelena could've turned them down, and they would've had to listen— but she didn't, and she won't, for reasons she's afraid some highest political operators have already found out. ]

Seems like it. I'm guessing you haven't heard anything new since that last message I sent your way?

[ Yelena had received another ... interesting correspondence from the now self-proclaimed queen of Tara, following Talulah's coronation. there's absolutely no excuse for Eblana Dublinn to keep up her pen-pal act now, though something tells her she's not been writing much to Talulah. ]

[The debt is something Talulah had been willing to shoulder the moment she decided to entreaty Ursus for help. That's how these things went. But she doesn't see Yelena as a reminder of it. Maybe that's a mistake, but she doesn't think she'd be able to live with herself if she didn't put faith in the trust they built over their time together, either. And besides that, she simply doesn't want to look at Yelena like she's just another political player.

If only the same could be said for others.]

No. At least not from the older sister.

[Loughshinny has been as helpful as she's able to. But Talulah's own advisors and administration members are furious at the snub from the actual leader of Dublinn and Tara. It's a delicate situation that could be more easily navigated if Eblana stopped being...however she's being.]

I haven't heard anything from her either ... you've been in contact with the younger one?

[ that's a good thing, if their goal is to keep tensions low. Loughshinny has, according to all reporting, come into her own since their encounter in Hillock. it's the outcome most were hoping for, though Yelena maintains she has the right to hold a little grudge against the other woman, for the whole 'trying to take her captive while her poorly disciplined soldiers ransacked a civilian town' incident.

that, and the fact that how she'd dealt with Loughshinny is what put her in Eblana's sights in the first place. ]

She's been pretty interested in cooperation, unlike her sister. She also seems to have a better relationship with the majority of the people.

[It's an interesting dynamic in the current Tara. A part of her feels real sympathy for Loughshinny. She's familiar with...complex family dynamics and has a sense of what the other might be feeling as of late.

And even if Talulah had been intent on holding a grudge from County Hillock, she couldn't do anything about it. She has to have some line of communication with Tara, and Eblana seems intent on stonewalling her.]

Not much of a choice in the matter if I can't talk to anyone else, though.

It makes sense. The things coming out of the capital don't sound good.

[ which isn't much, but what little their spies and intelligence teams have managed to tease out seems like the stuff of a grim fairy tale.

Yelena sidesteps the lump in her throat that forms when Talulah speaks of Loughshinny. when her thoughts drift back to a conversation they had in the Saint Grypherberg palace about forming alliances, the lump turns to a mass of thorns, and she has to consciously stop herself from turning the iced coffee in her hand to a frozen slab.

she's unspeakably grateful when the waitress chooses that moment to return with their food, setting their plates down with the same bouncy enthusiasm as before. ]

Can I get some hot sauce too, please? Thank you.

Edited 2026-01-29 00:10 (UTC)

They're not. But at least things in other spheres are doing well.

[Tara is in a terribly delicate and tangled situation, which makes things like logistics for repairs and other diplomatic ventures seem so much better in comparison. At least other countries are merely underhanded and out for their own self-interests, not an enigma.

And the fact that there are many, many, many more important things to worry about means no one is hounding her about making alliances the old-fashioned way. Yet. Talulah's aware of it, like some ghost from a horror film getting a little closer every time she looks away. It's inevitable, and she should have already steeled herself, but...things like Yelena coming to live in the capital don't help.

It really would be awful if she let the gloom of her own thoughts ruin the sunny atmosphere, so she sweeps them aside, thanks the sever, and turns back to Yelena with a small smile.]

So you do just like spicy things in general?

It'd be hard to eat those candies all the time if I didn't. And I got tacos— you're supposed to put sauce on those, aren't you?

[ she douses the taco fillings with a generous amount of sauce when the waitress returns, with a hand just light enough to stay within what most people would consider acceptable bounds. ]

Besides Tara ... how have you been doing in Londinium? It's been a while since you lived there, right?

[ from what she remembers, she think Talulah spent some time there at the military academy. Kaschey likely had property in the city too, though gossip said his main residence was a manor in the country that looked like something out of a horror movie. ]

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