Anarion

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

This feels wonderful. It's the nicest Kazelia has felt in...in...can we count years in the great void that's outside of worlds? Was it a thousand years ago when she left her mother's? She did keep telling Ourania that the age competition would be close, but then again how do yo count it? Let's say simply that when she was small in a far away lodge a long time ago, her mother would brush her hair in the evening. She didn't cut it when she was small, she just let it grow out, long, thick and dark back then, full of luster and shine as it pooled around her waist when she knelt at her mother's feet. She'd normally wear it up during the game in a big ponytail or all curled up. But at night she would let it out and her mother would sit and brush through it. Calmly, gently, and evenly, sitting on the bed above her. It was the most wonderful thing in all the world and Kazelia hasn't felt that since she left with her Father. He would never do such a thing, his hands weren't suited for tenderness. And while Asteria or Ninian might offer on occasion, they were rough with the snarls and too quick to be done.

Rita is an expert though. She brushes out Kazelia's white hair and you'd think the Rider were melting into her chair so fully does she relax into the brush strokes. Kazelia hums in a low murmur that might leave it up to doubt which of the two of them is the one purring. Perhaps both.

And then when that's done, the tea is some kind of Askaian chai. hints of cardamom mixed with milk and sweet brown sugar. Kazelia laps it up even though she blushes as she does it because it's so delicious.

Even the scarf feels just right. Azora would have silk of course, and so it's thin and gauzy over her lips when Rita isn't letting her drink, and after she was punished for her little magical show of resistance, she's careful to just drink and not talk while Rita works so it won't be interrupted.

Yes, this could go on forever. That would be fine. Just fine.

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

After some discussion, we've decided to put this game on hold until Elanorin's feeling better. Structurally it's really hinged off Samael and it won't be the same without him.

Take your time, Elanorin, we'll be waiting for you when life makes more sense :)

@Thanqol

In my headcanon though, Annalee conquered the whole school unopposed in Samael's absence. ;)

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

Kazelia giggles through her gag when Rita boops her. It tickles, this is a completely reasonable and unavoidable reaction! This whole surround is delightful, and while she gives an appropriate "mmmrrrph" when Rita describes herself as the most innocent princess in all Hyperborea, it's impossible to tell if that's grunting agreement or grunting strenuous disagreement. She does, though, manage to wiggle just enough of a finger that when Rita goes for the obvious cat pun, a loose button flies up and boops her on the chin. Kazelia is perfectly aware she'll pay for that (probably with kitty mittens) but it was worth it for the moment of surprised shock that crossed Rita's face just as she was doing her most triumphant punning. She did hope that Rita would brush her hair while she was fully restrained though. It had been so long since she had the chance to relax and that brush looked absolutely lovely with its silver handle and firm bristles. That would be heavenly.

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

"You fiends!" Kazelia shouts, trying without success to keep the grin off her face. "Betrayers! I thought my sisters had reformed, but instead you've conspired with the most wanted Askaian in all of Hyperborea!" Kazelia shakes her head in utter disbelief, that being the only part of her left that can do any shaking (perhaps a lower leg, but that would be both pointless and embarrassing). "I suppose now she's going to whisk me off and you're just going to let her, your poor sister, so recently reunited and mrrrrrrrrph!" Kazelia was right in the middle of her kidnapping monologue when Rita threw the scarf over her mouth. The utter, perfectly timed, indignity! Sure, she was enjoying every second of this and Rita had delivered in every way she had hoped when she mentioned this in Eupheria's weird interview show (really, this knot work was excellent, and she probably shouldn't tell either Kyouko or Rita that these were the most comfortable bonds she had been in since she had arrived in Hyperborea. It would set off some kind of cat fox war that would doom them all). Instead, Kazelia settled back into her chair and decided to enjoy herself, though she did keep trying to finish her extremely good speech through the gag, she was sure that after all the practice from Eupheria, they'd be able to make out some of the "mmrrphs and mmmmphs" as the intended exhortation to her sisters to unite behind family and reconsider all of their life choices one more time.

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

DARKEST SELF
LIAR

"Oh my goodness." Annalee picks up pig-Carmen and turns her around so they can look each other in the eyes. "I think Timmy is jealous that I didn't spend time with him! Did you hear what he said? 'you left me be after Samael made you do a curse. You went with Samael instead of me. You played with a werewolf instead of me.'"

She looks at pig-Carmen and shakes her head sadly, but she's sure her new pig friend understands the need for attention. "Timmy, let's put all this behind us. I did what I could to protect you and I was magically controlled by a vampire for most of a day. We have a friend here to uncurse, and then we should get some rest and start a new fresh tomorrow. Don't you think that's better?"

[Rolling to shut down with the jealous condition. 2+2+3=7. Timothy, lose your last string on Annalee, but you can give her another condition.]

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

Kazelia sighs. "First, I intend to defeat Father. Utterly, finally and completely. There's no redeeming him, and whatever facade he wears as a man is just a mask for his selfish essence. That is...a grim thing to say, I admit." She nods to Ninian more to Azora, who she suspects understands the nature of these things a bit already. "I also need to manage that without...giving myself up. I've taken the Void into myself, there's every chance that whatever ends up happening with Father, I don't come out of it as a normal person who can just walk around the world and eat spicy sausages with couscous." She sighs again. "And I don't want that. I'll do what I have to do, but I don't want it. I'm not done here. We've all been in Hyperborea only a few years. And I promised Mother when she came to me that I would show her this world. Full of life and joy and kisses! If I'm able, I'm going to stay with my friends, perhaps I'll live in Illumina. I think I ought to travel though. I might give concerts, write some kind of ode to all of this, tell our story to all the kingdoms and write new songs. Maybe Ourania will even invite me to Argossa to perform there. I'd love to have tea with the Sun again.

Kazelia lets herself ramble like this. Maybe Azora and Ninian would see the effect Hyperborea could have on people. The way she thought about grand things and little things all right next to each other. If she could try to nail it down, that was the beauty of this little world. It had cat hugs and good food next to vast serpents and a queen whose soul was fire who lived on a great stone tree that was the very pillar of the world. Vast and beautiful and tiny and personal all wrapped up together. Ah, if only Oberon could see it, could understand that others things had the right to just be as they were outside of him. Then maybe everything could be different.

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

"I think that's a great idea!" Kazelia says, honestly enthusiastic. Ninian as a hairdresser just seems incredibly right somehow. The logic made sense and Kazelia felt like Ninian would love meeting people and learning about what they felt made them beautiful. It was honestly exciting! "And, although I think our sister delivered her point too critically, I think Azora does have a good point that we're all still princesses. I'm sure that wherever you go, Ninian, people will look to you to be a leader and to help them solve their local problems, whether they're rampaging beasts that need taming, natural disasters, or a few local criminals that need some help. I'm sure you'll be up to the task of being a hairdresser and a local princess. Maybe you can even go to Feloria and study some new magic during your free time, I bet that would help with creative styles too!"

Unspoken: perhaps some Riders could go with Ninian too. Feloria has a lot of space, a small group might be welcome there. Kazelia isn't certain that there needs to be a new, separate Rider Queendom. It might be better if they spread out, small groups going one place and another, learning about different cultures and places in Hyperborea. Maybe they could have some kind of meeting once a year, like a pilgrimage to Argossa to share what they've learned and meet with Ourania to help become a more normal part of Argossa. Her mind is whirring, but for the moment she's not offering any of this because she's focused on Ninian and on Azora. Trying to help them see how its possible to relate and even to be critical without being so mean.

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

DARKEST SELF

"Oh Timmy" Annalee gives him a big, pig-included group hug. "Samael did make me say those things. He hypnotized me so that I thought finding you and bringing you to him was the most important thing in the world, worth doing anything for. I had no choice. I said those things to the werewolf because I knew with her natural talents she would be able to find you, and I was sure I could get you to Samael once I had found you. Now, come along, we can discuss this inside instead of kneeling in a hall. And I have a friendly pig to help decurse if she promises to be good and not try to kick me in the head."

Annalee picks up Timmy, still half supporting him while holding Carmen in her other arm and practically pulls the group of them into the room.

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

It amused Kazelia in light of the last adventure that the first thing that came to her head was the analysis. Her eyes hadn't changed because she had absorbed Mother into herself and she was infused with the energy of the void, the essence of what made a Rider and why travel between the stars was so dangerous. It wasn't something that could just be gone, it was already nothing, even its absence was something. Eupheria's curses had been really good that way. Bringing out a little piece of what was inside people, playing it up, making it take over every other part of them. She wondered, for a very brief moment, if Alina wanted to be a cat sometimes. Maybe she'd ask later, that would be fun.

This wasn't the time for that kind of theory though. That wasn't what Azora was really asking. Kazelia looked at her with those starry eyes. "Azora, my eyes didn't change because Mother and I agreed to stay together. She's right here with me. She's seeing the world through my heart. I've done a lot since we've been apart. I've felt things that I didn't think I could ever feel again." She puts her hand on Azora's, a gentle touch. It's not like a Rider's, it has that Rider chill but an odd warmth to it too, not frigid like a normal Rider, but rather like a spring breeze over a melted river. And under that, Azora's hand is warm, full of life that she hasn't had in so many ages uncounted that she forgot what she's feeling. She, more than any of the others had wanted to forget.

Kazelia turns to Ninian, hand still on Azora's. "Let her answer. There's a whole world out here, and I'm guessing you might have a few ideas." Kazelia turns her Ninian as she's speaking, addressing her with a warm smile. "What do you think you'd like to do Nins? It doesn't have to be something you're sure about, and don't worry if it's a little embarrassing, we won't judge, not even Azora."

Princess-Champions of Hyperborea

"Yeah, crazy. Beyond my wildest dreams." Kazelia smiles and cuts herself a slice of her own sausage, which she eats with a little couscous and butter. It's delicious, hearty fare, spiced with a bit of chili from the Bazaar and it makes her feel alive as she swallows it. She looks at Azora, studiously not looking back at her. "You know one thing I love about Hyperborea? It's got competition but it's not about competition the way that our lives used to be. With Father, it always felt like we had to compete, there was that fear that if you weren't the best, or weren't doing enough, you'd be abandoned. I always worried that all the nice things I wanted would go to somebody else if I didn't make him proud. Here though, it's not like that. There are contests, sure. Princesses compete to see who's fastest or strongest, who's the most graceful or the best craftswoman. But if you're not those things, they don't mock you or ridicule you. Instead they help you find the things you are good at and the things that make your heart fill with light and a smile creep onto your face. I'd forgotten that I love to sing and dance before I came here."

Kazelia takes another bite. Chews, swallows, takes a drink of some spiced wine to go with it. Then she looks at Ninian, not Azora. Starting the conversation first. "what do you think you want to do, Nins?"