defyingfrigidity | [ryslig IC Inbox]

[ Angel sits, getting a good look at herself in the mirror. A real Princess Diaries moment here, he "hair" is...bad. Partially grown out on her formally shaved side, obscuring the ports that still remain defunct and bulky in her skull, and long and shaggy on the other side. She's never known what to do with it, or had reason to care until recently and has such just kept it in the same messy ponytail she always has. ]

My father was- or at least believed he was the ruler of all things, and his parties definitely had ulterior motives to them. By both him and the guests. It was always another opportunity for him to show off, and for them to attempt to get into good standing with him.

None of the formalities ever appealed to me, but the chance to dress up or see a life sized chocolate and liquid gold fountain up close always looked exciting.

Were your parties in Arendelle like that? Grandiose?

[Unless you really know what you're doing, it's a very tricky thing to deal with nymph "hair". Most brushes sold in shops can't really accommodate the long, stringy leaves or vines, and tangles and snarls can easily lead to strands being fully pulled out. But Elsa's hands are gentle, even without her connection to plants, making sure to undo any tangles one by one so that the vegetation doesn't rip. She... avoids the strange ports on the side of Angel's head, not really sure how to bring that up just yet, and for now just leaves her hair hanging free down her back.]

Arendelle... didn't have parties, for many years. [If Angel looks at Elsa through the mirror, she'll see that the woman is still smiling, but there's a hint of sadness in her eyes now.] When Anna and I were children, most of the formal functions our father threw were mainly for political reasons, yes. We managed to make our own fun among the adults, so we never really put any sort of second thought as to why there were only ever nobles there, and not the rest of our family or any of the townspeople. But after, ah...

[There's a moment of hesitation. Elsa... hasn't really confided much about herself in many people. She's come a long way in healing from her troubled past, but it's still... difficult. To let people know that she's not just some prim and proper queen who never did anything wrong.]

After the discovery of my growing abilities, my father thought it would be better to hold off of any sort of parties until we were sure it would be safe for others.

[It's... not a total lie! Just a lot of watering down of a very complicated, terrible situation.]

[ Angel catches that smile in the mirror, and is perceptive enough to see the sadness in it too. She can understand, she thinks. It sounds quiet- lonely even, and that's a feeling she's well and familiar with. Still. ]

It's nice that you had each other.

[ She matches Elsa's smile at that, and does her best to keep any trace of her own sadness out of her expression. Lonely is lonely, but the experienced shared, surely that would lessen the burden. But before she can ruminate on it something Elsa says catches her attention. ]

Sorry, your abilities? You mean before this place?

[Oh, that's right... there was a time when Elsa would refuse to talk much about her powers at all, even in this land full of monsters and magic and people from such vastly different worlds. She doesn't hide it now, but she just... doesn't bring it up. She hasn't had access to her magic for over three years now, and though she misses them - even more so after her dreams of the spirits and the Enchanted Forest - she doesn't really.... dwell on them.

Once, she'd have done anything to avoid talking about her magic. Now, the words come out so very easily.]

Yes. It's a long story of how it happened, but I was born with the ability to control ice and snow.

[There's a pause, because this next part is something she does hesitate to talk about, even now. Only a very select few people know much about her history, and even fewer know the full story...]

They were somewhat volatile, as they were tied closely with my emotions. You can imagine how... complicated that would be for a growing child. My father realized we had to be careful, so that nobody would get hurt.

[ Now that hits deep. Angel almost winces at Elsa's words, stifling it at the last moment.

She wishes she had the courage to share her own experiences on the matter, but fears the doors that could possibly open by doing so. Mentioning that she had powers could easily lead to what they were used for, to who they were used against.

So she keeps the focus on Elsa best she can as the other woman brushes through her hair. ]

That's pretty cool- er, no pun intended. Your father...did he train you?

[ Some time in the wee hours of the 22nd, Angel quietly returns to Solsikke after her week long stay at the Devil's Nest to quietly pack up her things and leave. On her bed she leaves a note that reads as followed: ]

To: Elsa, Anna and Cassandra

Firstly, I would like to apologize for my sudden absence. It was unplanned, but that is not an excuse for any trouble I may have caused you in the interim.

Next, I would like to apologize for my sudden departure. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for you taking me in, and offering a mere letter as thanks is hardly worthy of what you've done for me. Even so, it is all I can offer in this moment as it has become clear that I have to return to where I belong.

Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart.

~Angel

[Elsa's hands, so gently working at Angel's leafy hair, still for a moment.

Agnarr is... a sensitive subject. For all of her life, Elsa did her very best to model herself after her father. She wanted to be the good girl he always wanted her to be, she wanted to be the brave and strong leader that he always was. He was her idol, who she thought could do no wrong.

But as she grew, as his expectations of her grew... it was hard. They'd had disagreements over how he kept Anna confined as well as her. And Anna... bringing in the idea that Agnarr wasn't a good father, and throwing the proof that he'd hurt both of them at her...

It's hard. She's still sorting her feelings out.]

He... didn't, no. My father had no supernatural abilities of his own. Magic in Arenelle was seen as something from fairy tales. Mythological stories. Nobody really knew how to handle my abilities, but he... tried.

[But... did he try hard enough...?]

Nothing really worked, though.

[ Angel carefully watches Elsa's expression, it becoming clear to her that she's hitting a nerve. Again, she can relate, and so she pivots the conversation to something lighter. ]

Um, will Cass be going as your date tonight?

[Ah, that seems to do the trick; Elsa's cheeks flush a light shade of pink, and while her hands are still a bit slow as she works Angel's leafy hair into a careful braid, she seems to have pulled herself out of her thoughts a bit.]

She will be, yes. We, ah... haven't been on a date in a while. [She laughs.] But I don't want it to be just a date night! I'd love to spend time with Anna, and with you. Let's try and make it a night for all of us to enjoy.

elsa!! you are NEVER going to guess who i met today!!!

[Oh, that certainly gets Elsa's attention - the new arrivals are just starting to file in, right? Gosh, she needs to get everything set up to go meet with them...]

Oh? Who?

Loki!
The real Loki!
he was in Djavulenstad asking for directions and I just happened to find him! me!!!

Wait, really???
What was he like?
I can't imagine what sort of person he would actually be, based off of all those legends...

he was very nice! i told him about home of the pranks I pulled as a kid and he seemed really pleased
it made me miss home so much.

The look of shock on my face right now would stun you, Anna, hearing that a god of mischief and trickery approved of all those stunts you pulled.

[the sarcasm is so clear in that text, but Elsa is absolutely saying that in the utmost affectionate way.]

... I miss home, too.
I've been here for so long, but the homesickness has never gone away.
It's just... easier to bear, some days.

But we'll get back there someday.
And then we can throw the biggest party when we reunite with everyone we've missed these past years.

Yes, I bet you're very surprised by all of this. But you should meet him, Elsa, he's so interesting!

[She's gone through so many periods of being hopeful that they'd return home for good some day, only to be followed by times where she was sure they'd be stuck here forever, but meeting Loki, talking to Elsa...it gives her a tiny bit of hope.]

I know. We will. People disappear from here every day, we're bound to get lucky eventually!

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for him.
Escapades aside, I can't imagine how fascinating it would be to talk with a god.
Even more so one who's so knowledgeable on the topic of magic.

[Elsa's long since gotten over her... reservations concerning her powers, and doesn't feel like she's alone in regards to them. Still... he may not be from their world, but he's certainly from their culture, and it excites her to be able to pull at that sort of connection.]

Honestly, I feel like my luck has been terrible more often than not in this place.
The poachers, that tree god...
I think we're overdue for a little good luck.

What are you most looking forward to when we finally find a way home?

I know! I can't wait to meet him again. We should invite him to tea at the castle!! Wouldn't that be fun?

I couldn't agree more.

I think just...the people. Everyone we haven't seen in years. Olaf!!!

Oh gods, Olaf.
Anna, he might as well be the snowman equivalent of a teenager when we finally find a way home.
How are we going to deal with that???
Is he going to be okay???
Poor Kristoff, having to deal with that all on his own...

why is that vaguely horrifying to think about? I'm not going to think about that anymore.

I'm really worried about Kristoff. I'm guessing he disappeared with everyone else...do you think he'll be ok?

He's growing up.
Without us!
I'm glad he's becoming his own person - snowman??? - but I'm so worried over what he is or isn't learning.
I hope he'll be... okay, without us.

What happens to the people who show up for only a short time like that seems... different from what happens to us.
I don't think the gods here have quite as good of a hold on them as they do with the monsters who show up the "normal" way.
So I think - no, I'm sure he's fine.
Just... rattled, likely.
But at least he has the others back home to help him.

Well, if you're right, Kristoff is just back home...and hopefully he's a good role model for Olaf.

I feel terrible about having to break up with him while he was here. But he seemed to really just...want me to be happy. So I guess it turned out for the better after all.

[Oh... good. She's really happy everything went well with them. That knot of worry has been twisting in her gut since she saw Kristoff with all the temporary arrivals, and she can feel it loosening as she reads those words.]

I understand.
I doubt there's really a good time to break up with someone, but... with everything going on, it must have been difficult.
He's a good man, though. I knew he wouldn't be angry with you.

... Still, I think we should spoil him a bit, when we both find a way home.
To let him know he's still part of our family, no matter what.
I was thinking of building some sort of loft bedroom above the stables, so he could be more comfortable when he hangs out with Sven...

I really didn't know WHAT to expect. I've never broken up with someone before.
Unless you count Hans, which I don't, because I was too busy being dead to dump him properly.

I think you're absolutely right! I think he'd love something like that. He'll always be family, after all. I'll always care for him.

I suppose the closest thing you did to a breakup with him was breaking his nose.
I think that got the point across fairly well, though.
(and it was extremely satisfying to watch)

Yeah, he will.
It's a little funny, really.
With him around, I feel like I finally understand how you feel, having an older sibling.
He never really felt like just "my sister's partner".
I think, pretty early on, I seriously thought of him as a big brother.

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, QUEENOFICEOLATION. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 013.11.221.20 * QUEENOFICEOLATION has joined 013.11.221.20 <QUEENOFICEOLATION> I think I've finally gotten the hang of these devices. <QUEENOFICEOLATION> So! <QUEENOFICEOLATION> There's no harm in setting up one of these, yes? <QUEENOFICEOLATION>** (Thanks to those of you who helped me do so and I'm sorry if I frustrated anyone)