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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[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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