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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Mm, alright.

[Talulah is also puzzling over this more than she probably should, but that's fine. It is definitely a normal and fun friend activity, so if she's overthinking this decision for certain reasons, that's her own business.]

My requests are pretty similar to yours. Nothing too long and at least some kind of sleeve.

[She doesn't like having to be overly-conscious about leaning over or moving around. Some of these have some pretty severe necklines. And backless dresses, although she can't help but think Yelena would look good in one of those.]

With sleeves? That narrows down my options.

[ she's not joking. more than half of the styles are sleeveless, the designers clearly expecting anyone in Siesta's climate to prefer as little fabric as possible.

deciding to grab something before she can continue to overthink this, she picks one off the rack. it's an ombre of bright red to dark, burgundy hue, with a tier skirt that stops around the knees. the high-waisted bodice has a v-neck cut and flowy half-sleeves, and a back that dips just low enough to show off the wearer's shoulder blades. ]

Here, this should work.

Oh, that does look nice.

[Especially the color. Although, as pretty as the dress is, Talulah is probably happier that it's something Yelena chose for her more than anything else. She decides to hand over what she'd plucked off of the display before she overthinks her choice, or dwells too long on how inordinately pleased she is.]

Here, let's trade.

[The dress Talulah holds is white along the sleeveless bodice, dropping into sunflower yellow and blood orange at the hem of the asymmetrical skirt. It's shorter in the front, above the knee, to allow better movement, and ruffled just enough to resemble showy tropical fins. She turns the hanger around to show the raceback cutouts, before offering it to Yelena.]

[ seeing Talulah's reaction makes any lingering embarrassment over the exchange blink out of Yelena's view. she can't regret playing into some typically girly activity if it leaves Talulah looking unburdened for the first time in months. ]

Thanks. [ she drops the dress in her basket, hiking it up into the crook of her elbow as she glances around the store, trying to locate her next target. ]

That covers all my bases. Did you see the changing rooms when we came in? Let's head over.

[ because of course Talulah is going to come along to see her try on swimsuits, right? that's half of the reason you bring a friend along in the first place. ]

[Well, what else is vacation for besides doing ordinary fun things? And trying on swimsuits, since it is a beach vacation specifically. Talulah will come along, because that is what friends do, and she wants to see how her own pick turned out. Nothing else, surely.]

That way, I think?

[There's a corner nearer to the back of the store with a stylized sign pointing to the right. When Talulah follows its direction, she finds several stalls with tall doors and several full-length mirrors in the hall.]

[ Yelena follows along, slipping into a dressing room and shutting the door behind her as soon as they arrive. she's never struggled with following her instincts, and if she were shopping alone, she'd make her final choices in a handful of minutes. and it's not like she'll let Talulah's opinion overrule hers— but if Yelena's there with a friend, she might as well ask after it. ]

I guess this is option one.

[ calling out over the wall in case Talulah had gone into another stall to try the dress on, Yelena steps out to gauge her appearance in the larger mirrors.

the swimsuit she'd thrown in as a possible choice is a white flat bandeau top help up by thin straps and matching bottoms with a low rise. ]

It's easy to put on, at least. [ there's a hint of displeasure in her relatively neutral statement. she turns around, looking over her shoulder to see the view of her back— and the bottoms waistband that dips under her entirely exposed, cotton-puff tail. she'd read something about foregoing holes for smaller tails being in style right now. Yelena doesn't think she's a fan. ]

[Talulah had been in another stall trying on the dress. Some brands run large or small, so she wanted to see if this size actually fit or not. She steps out not long after Yelena does, smoothing down the skirt of the dress. Glancing up, her hand stops halfway through the motion.

She shouldn't be staring. She really should not be staring. But like that one night in Hillock, her gaze is drawn automatically to that soft and plush-looking tail. The irrational urge to touch it hadn't been a fluke from that time, either. She forces herself to look away from that and instead to the rest of the swimsuit, which is bad in other ways, but not nearly as dangerous.]

If that's the only good thing about it, you should probably choose another one.

You're probably right.

[ Yelena doesn't notice Talulah's gawking while she's twisting around in front of the mirrors, high ponytail slipping over her shoulder like a silvery waterfall as she scrutinizes the swim set. she knew when she put it on that it wouldn't win over Talulah's suggestion, even if the the simpler design is what she'd usually gravitate toward. why she persisted, Yelena can't really say, some part of her brain stubbornly insisting that she can't seem too eager to dress to Talulah's taste.

decisively flicking her tail, she turns to head back into the changing room, though not without appraising her own pick for Talulah. ]

That color's nice on you. I've never seen you wear it before, but I had a good feeling.

[Talulah had been so distracted she momentarily forgot that there's a reason she'd been in a dressing room as well. She takes the easy excuse she's given to direct her own attention away by looking at herself in one of the other mirrors.

Yelena's right, it is a nice color on her. She sees her own reflection smiling back as she looks over her shoulder to examine the other side of the dress.]

It's definitely not a color I would have chosen by myself, but thanks, I think so too.

[She didn't really think she'd outright dislike anything Yelena picked out, but it does give her that same inordinately pleased feeling as before when she realizes how much the choice flatters her.]

[ warmth bubbles up in Yelena's chest at Talulah's indirect praise. any embarrassment she'd feel over caring about something she usually deems inconsequential is smothered by Talulah's pleased expression as she examines herself in the mirrors. it's a different kind of happiness than what she remembers on similar outings with her friends, and she ducks her head and looks away before she can follow that realization to its inevitable conclusion. ]

I think you could pull off most deeper tones. I'll cut the praise short there— I don't want it going to your head. [ Yelena slips back into her stall with a smirk, closing the door before Talulah can get off a proper retort to her face. ]

[She always had to have the last word, didn't she? But Talulah is taking her compliment to heart a little, and is already wondering if maybe she shouldn't actually listen to the staff back in Victoria about some blues or violets in her wardrobe, too.

She thinks to go back into her own stall and change into the clothes she'd been wearing earlier before a thought occurs to her.]

Hey, do you want to wear these out or save the matching thing for later?

[They don't really have a defined plan after this, but there's also no time like the present, is there?]

Huh?

[ Yelena's answer muffled over the stall wall, her voice quieter than she meant it to be. the second swimsuit, Talulah's choice, requires a bit more involvement to put on. most of her attention is focused on retying the strings that hold the top back, her chest a little smaller than what the initial fit accounted for. ]

We can do it now if you want, I don't really care, but my nice sandals are back at the hotel. [ there is the option of just asking one of her "escorts" to run back and get them, which wouldn't be that outlandish of a demand if she's already dumping the clothes she wore in on them.

she doesn't leave the stall when she's finished changing this time. the slightly sheen to the deep green fabric and wavy cut along the outer edges of the triangular cups of the top give it an almost organic look, like kelp leaves flowing in water. the bottom ties on each side of her hips and showcases the entirety of thighs, but it goes go high enough that there's a slot in the fabric for her tail to slip through.

it's somewhat more revealing than first one she tried on, but undoubtedly suits her better. the thought of Talulah seeing her in it makes her stomach do an uncomfortable little flip, and Yelena finds herself hesitating to step out. ]

No, it's fine to do it later. I just wanted to know if I should change back or not.

[She's definitely not so set on the idea enough to send what would effectively be a courier to fetch the right shoes, so she slips back into the changing stall to put her original clothes back on.

It doesn't take her too much time, but she had expected to see Yelena already out by the time she finished because the other had a head start. Some swimsuits can be...tricky to put on, so she waits for a bit. But when there doesn't seem to be movement or an indication that Yelena's going to come out soon, she raises her hand, pausing just briefly, before knocking on the door to the stall.]

You've been in there a while. Do you need help with part of the swimsuit?

No, I'm fine.

[ Talulah's voice drags her out of the indecisive fog she'd wandered into, forcing Yelena to act or risk raising more questions. she turns and forcefully pulls the door open, trying to relax her posture enough to pass for having no especially strong feelings about her current attire. ]

The ties in the back are kind of annoying, but I like the color. [ she turns to the side to demonstrate, showing off the sloppy knot she had to manage with her head craned to watch her own back in the mirror. despite her best efforts, it still hangs slightly loose on her frame. ]

[With the first option, the exposed tail had been the only real danger zone. Like most swimsuits, it had been revealing, but not as much or in the same way as the current one. And besides that, Talulah's regretting being so right about the color. It really does suit Yelena, a pretty contrast against her pale skin, and naturally draws the eye, which in this situation isn't...ideal.

Neither is the long expanse of her thighs nor her cleavage, and Talulah is quickly running out of places where she thinks it might be safe to rest her gaze. Friends should be able to look at their friends in swimsuits without feeling practically overcome, but she'll deal with that later. For now, she has to zero in on the loose strap and make some kind of positive reaction.

If she waits too long trying to keep her expression even, then Yelena will think she doesn't like it, and that couldn't be further from the truth.]

Ha. I knew I was right. You look good in that. Do you want me to fix the tie for you?

[ it's hard to ignore the awkwardly long pause between Talulah seeing her and actually saying anything about the swimsuit. even when Talulah does break the silence, Yelena doesn't feel entirely relieved, a weight lingering in the air between them that makes Yelena want to squirm.

she's too in her own head, she tries to tell herself. there's no reason to go looking for meaning in every offhand remark they exchange. Talulah's probably just didn't realize how revealing the two-piece was on the hanger. and there's definitely nothing deeper behind her offer to fix Yelena's sloppy knot. ]

Yeah, if you could. I think it'll be fine if it's a little tighter, but I might need to size down. [ Yelena turns, one hand going to brush her hair over her shoulder to give Talulah a clear view of her back. ]

Let's try this first.

[Talulah steps close enough to reach out and undo the tie, holding the straps taut enough that the top doesn't slip down. She's careful not to linger too long and avoid touching too much of Yelena's back as she makes a neat little bow, but even that much is enough for Talulah to think this had, perhaps, not been the best idea.

The task is thankfully quick to finish, and once she tightens it to satisfaction, she steps back again.]

There. Do you think that's fine, or do you need a different size?

[ Yelena holds her breath without thinking when Talulah reaches to fix the knot at her back, terrified that some stray sigh will give her away. give what about her away, she's not entirely sure, and doesn't notice how tight her lungs have become until Talulah finishes and the ambient warmth of her hands retreat. ]

Let me check. [ she says a slight delay, shuffling over to the area with the mirrors arranged to give the customer a better idea of how something looks from all angles. ]

I think the size is okay. It's a lot more revealing than what I'd usually pick out ... but I can put something on over it when I'm not in the water.

This place has plenty of cover-ups if you want to pick once you're done trying on the rest. But I think this is a winner, if you want to save time.

[Talulah is a bit too focused on keeping her own actions within the borders of normal as possible to notice any unusual pause from Yelena's end. It does look good, and not just because it's revealing, although Talulah isn't going to dissuade the other from wearing it based on that.

If Yelena takes Talulah's praise as coming from a sense of petty pride that she's chosen the "correct" option, then all the better.]

[ a quip along of the lines of of course you'd say that sits on Yelena's tongue, waiting to be released, but she finds herself hesitant over the wording. it's unlike her to worry about that sort of thing. Talulah's presence has turned nerve-wracking in way it never was before, leaving Yelena feeling out of her depth in what should be an extremely simple exchange. ]

Yeah, I put some in my basket. [ though she'll need retreat to her sweatshirts and running shorts to actually feel covered up at all. she'll have to hope palace PR will let her have this one. ]

I'm fine going with this one. I don't want to spend more time here than we have to.

Then that just leaves the dress, right?

[Talulah would have taken that quip in stride, considering it's no different than the rest of the times Yelena's decided to make sure Talulah doesn't get too full of herself. But there is definitely something odd about how she's been second-guessing everything she's doing and saying as well. Maybe it's just...growing pains, and adjusting to a relationship outside the high-pressure of a rebellion and war.

But while that's an excuse Talulah will easily cling to like a piece of driftwood in the middle of the sea, it's not exactly the full truth, either.]

Maybe I'll go two for two with what I picked for you.

[ for a brief, hysterical second, Yelena considers lying about having already tried the dress on. running this errand together seems like a mistake in hindsight, something about the conditions of dressing and undressing around Talulah making her brain stutter and freeze during simple interactions. ]

Yeah, maybe.

[ she quickly retreats back into the stall, eager to change. the dress is significantly less revealing, though the style also calls for her tail to slip through a tailored hole in the back. it's significantly less nerve-wracking to open the door when her torso is mostly covered. ]

I think this will work.

[Talulah is a little surprised that her quip only got such a mild reply in response instead of Yelena's usual, more cutting remark, but the other is already darting into the dressing room, and it would be odd to make a fuss about it.

Thankfully, Talulah doesn't have to spend a long time stewing. The dress is also pretty, she thinks, and although it does show off a lot of Yelena's legs, it's somehow less fraught than the swimsuit had been.]

Oh, just serviceable? I think that's the best compliment I'll get, though. It looks good, in my opinion.

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I saw rise in the heat settle soft and as pure as snow

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