defyingfrigidity | [ryslig IC Inbox]

[After several long, long days of "partying", the bugs in their hive finally allowed their guests to leave. Without their missing shoes but with their memories intact, this time. By the time they were let out, Cassandra was delighted to go, and she assumed everyone else felt the same way. She just couldn't stay in a hive for much longer. There were important things that needed tending to.

Like one, specific thing she'd worried about missing. Thank goodness she hadn't forgotten.

So, on the evening of December twenty-first, there's a knock at Elsa's door. It's quick and unexpected, no fuss had been made earlier about a birthday. So it may be surprising to find Cassandra standing there, a plate with a cupcake in one hand, and something long bundled in wrapping paper under her arm.]

Hey.

[Elsa likes the bugs. Honest! They remind her of Olaf in some weird way, so spending some time at one of their parties wasn't really the worst thing that Elsa could've gone through. But for several days? That was pushing it a bit. By the end of the second day, Elsa was a bit tapped out on all that social interaction, so she'd followed Cassandra's lead and left as soon as they were able to.

The days passed, things calmed down, and Elsa made a note of today's date with barely a fuss. After all, her birthday wasn't really important; not to her at least. It was just... another day. Not something worth celebrating. She went through the day like normal, and she'd almost forgotten that it was still her birthday when she heard a knock. Moving across her room, she opened the door, poking her head out.]

Yes? Oh.

[Her visible eye widens, noticing first the cupcake and then the package.]

Cassandra! You... knew about today?

[Cassandra had come around on her feelings for the bugs... mostly. They weren't evil like she feared! Sure, they had some misguided ideas about throwing parties, but there wasn't a ulterior motive more nefarious than deep-frying her boot and forcing her to stay in the hive for a few days. Honestly, Cass was just happy they finally let them go.]

Yup, a certain... source told me about it. [And there's really only one of those around here.] So I thought I'd do a little something...

[She shifts her arm, readjusting her hold on the bundled gift, which was difficult when she had only one hand. Holding the plate and cupcake out to Elsa, she smiled hesitantly.]

Do you mind?

[Elsa lets out a little huff; no real anger or annoyance behind it at all. Just... a little bit of resignation.]

Anna...

[Of course it would be Anna. Anna's not gunna let anyone pass up a chance to pay extra attention to Elsa, will she? Elsa would be a hypocrite if she complained, though, because she'd do the same. She did do the same.

... But now's not a time to dwell on that! She sees the way Cassandra struggles to hold the package tucked into the crook of her arm, and her brows raise before she steps back, pulling the door open all the way and stepping aside.]

No, not at all! Come inside, please. [She holds out a hand.] Here, let me help with... something. Either of those things.

[When Cassandra steps inside, she'll see that Elsa has started preparing for bed; dressed in a long purple nightgown, eyepatch off and resting on her nightstand, next to a book that seemed to be hastily set aside. She doesn't look very sleepy, so it seems like she was only just starting to settle in.]

You... you know you didn't have to do anything, right?

Who else?

[A small nod is given; Cass was honestly glad she asked Anna about it, though any ulterior motives Anna had weren't anticipated. Any conversations she'd had when she was very drunk were obviously not going to come up.]

Thanks. Uh, here? I thought you might like this to go with the present.

[She couldn't bake a whole cake, but she could do a cupcake... reasonably well. It's a little lopsided, but what can you do when you have one hand? Handing it over to Elsa gives her way more room to handle the, admittedly, far more important bundle.

...Trying not to gape for too long at the nightgown, she focuses on other things. The book she'd obviously interrupted and the eyepatch left on the nightstand. Such a simple thing, but a sign of how things changed so quickly in Ryslig.

But Elsa's voice knocks her back into the moment, and she smiles.]

I know. But I wanted to. [Whenever Elsa's ready, she presents the gift; long and slender, maybe a telescope or something?] Feel free to open this when you want.

[Elsa's nightgown is very modest!! Gosh, no need to stare.

... Thankfully, the nymph seems interested enough in the gift to not notice the way Cassandra stares. She takes it in both hands turning it over a few times to try and get an idea of what it is. It's... heavy, but not too much so? Hm...]

I'd love to try the cupcake, but... perhaps I should start with this first, so we can set it down.

[Elsa's claws, though not as imposing as a werebear's claws or as destructive, can still tear through paper with ease. So it's probably interesting to watch how she doesn't completely shred it, not like an overexcited child at Christmas would. She just... neatly tears it, setting it aside in a pile to be picked up later. She opens the box, and...]

[It's modest, but!! Still!! Sometimes she can't help looking at Elsa, taking her in during quieter moments. Discreetly, of course. She doesn't want to be rude, or even do it at all.

Stupid feelings.

Cassandra nods and hands the gift over.] Good idea. Here.

[Not much for her to do beside stand back and watch. Watch as Elsa carefully peels away the wrapping with meticulous care, leaving a plain white box underneath, and within that... is something not quite as small as a knife; rather, it's a full sword, a well-forged looking one at that. The handle is polished wood, with a dark metal hand guard - not silver, of course. The distinct colors of Arendelle's flag- green and purple -cover the handle in diamond patterns. The blade itself is flat, though expertly sharpened on both ends if Elsa were to check, and long enough to work at close and long ranges if need be. But on closer inspection, should she do so, she'll see the blade is not bare- etched into the metal, trailing from tip to handle... are snowflake designs. They show as it catches the light just right.

Holding it in her hands might bring to mind the practice sabers she had used to spar with Cassandra. Lightweight, easier to use than most. Not quite a knife, but what was Cass to do?

Speaking of Cassandra, she's standing by, with some hesitation,]

Not bad...?

[Honestly, Elsa didn't know what to expect. Her parents had always given her books or clothes on her birthday, before she'd started really pushing them away and denying herself things that made her happy. Here, she was somewhat expecting things like baking supplies, or new gardening tools... so when she pulls the sword out of the box, her breath catches.

Elsa isn't into weapons in the same way that Cassandra is, but even she can see that this is a work of art. The handle, the guard, the- oh.]

Oh... oh wow.

[Ever so lightly, Elsa's thumb brushes against the polished blade, tracing the snowflake patterns etched into it. That... that's what makes her heart flutter, more than the Arendelle colors do. Cassandra remembered, she knew how important Elsa's magic was to her... and had it incorporated into this beautiful homage to her home.]

You really had this made just for me?

Yeah? You like it?

[That little "wow" definitely lifted a weight off her chest. She breaths out a breath she didn't know was being held, and it settles some of her nerves. Even after being told, several times, that her gift idea was a good one, she still doubted herself up until she saw the look on Elsa's face. Now... she's starting to believe maybe she really is better at gift giving than she first assumed.]

The colors are from memory, and... you did say you once had snow magic, so...

[She gives a light shrug of her shoulders, hand wrapping around her other arm.]

I'm not an artist like Rapunzel is, but I think they got just how I wanted it to look.

I love it. I know I mentioned at the beginning of our training that I'm not one for weapons, but... that you designed something like this...

[Handmade things will always affect Elsa more. The highlight of her Christmas - of her year in some cases - was always hearing Anna's knock at her door, and seeing a card or handmade doll or some other such thing sliding under it. Moreso than any of the books or the clothes her parents would give her, Anna's presents gave her strength. They warmed her heart in a way few things could; they were proof that Anna loved her. That she cared enough to make her something special, with just Elsa in mind. So for Cassandra to do such a thing too...

She blinks hard, once. Twice. It looks like she's trying very hard not to cry.]

Your design is beautiful, Cassandra. I... I don't know what else to say.

Happy birthday.

[She loves it.

That wipes away any doubt left in her mind. All the gifts and cards, and little figurines she'd made for her dad on Guardian's Day weren't just little flukes that he loved- not that she ever doubted him on that. But hearing it from someone else, from Elsa was a different sort of special entirely.

She can't be bothered to hide the smile on her face, even as she notices tears- she hopes they're tears of joy -in Elsa's eyes.]

You don't have to say anything, but uh... you're welcome.

[They're absolutely tears of joy. Though Elsa only has one visible eye, it shines brightly, crinkling a little at the corner with how she smiles. Elsa is usually a rather reserved young woman, even when she's happy, so for her smile to nearly split her face like that... it's a good sign.

An even better sign as to how happy Elsa is would be when she sets the sword, back in its box, at the edge of her bed before throwing her arms around Cassandra's shoulders. The last time they hugged wasn't a very pleasant circumstance, but this time there's nothing but a calm, joyful air surrounding the nymph as she hugs her friend.]

Thank you. It can't fully express how I feel, but this means so much.

[To Elsa, that sword isn't just a sword; it might as well be a handmade gift, with how Cassandra designed it. It was a symbol for how far her training has come. Cassandra had given her something that can better help protect Anna and her friends, and though Elsa hopes she never has to use it... she'll be sure to, if the poachers ever come again.]

[~~I'll remember what everyone is currently missing one of these days.~~

The smile was already an excellent sign. The way it framed her face made her shine brighter than the lamp light in Cassandra's eyes. After a month of recovering from the things they had both been put through, it was almost mesmerizing... at least enough to catch Cassandra off-guard with a hug.

It's true that the last time they hugged wasn't under the best circumstances; they were exhausted, covered in blood, strained to the breaking point. A hug had been soothing, maybe cathartic after the turmoil, but not like this. This was soft, warm, brought on entirely as an expression of happiness, instead of Cassandra attempting to reach out to someone in need.

Someone she loved. Because that's just it. She loves Elsa. More than that, she's proud of her. Someone so reserved, but brave enough to survive this world, and come out stronger for it? She deserved that sword.

Right now, the werebear was stuck for what to do, but it wasn't hard to figure out. Her arms found themselves wrapping around Elsa- both arms this time-holding her not unlike the last time. She was supporting, holding her close with the option of letting go any time.]

Trust me, that means a lot to me too. I'm glad you love it.

[It's warm. Cassandra is warm. Not the stifling sort of warm that presses in on all sides, like the horribly stuffy days in the middle of summer. It's more like... the warmth of a fire. Or the feeling Elsa gets when she drinks a mug of hot chocolate fast enough that it doesn't cool. It's... similar, but different from the way Anna hugs her.

She doesn't want to let go. A part of her is yelling at her that she has to, has to keep her boundaries so she's not pushing her feelings onto Cassandra... but every day that voice grows weaker and weaker.]

I'm glad. I'll thank you every day if I have to. [That's... okay, right? It's not too much? It's a little more... intimate than how she usually expresses her gratitude to Cassandra, but she's still trying to find a good line here.] I'll never forget anything you've done for us, Cassandra.

[Yes... us...]

[It's like the warmth of the sun on a clear day. Like the heat of a forge, stable and lasting. Like the sort of hugs Rapunzel gave where she threw her everything into them. Cassandra used to hate those, but it was different now... but not this. This was so similar.

If all of this- every little thing she felt right now -was simply her feelings for another being put on someone else... maybe that was okay? And maybe that wasn't even true. She had to think on it, and maybe... ask someone.

But it's a little hard to think with a lovely woman's face this close.]

I... Cool. I can live with that. [She's.... bad at words in the best of the times. But she doesn't stop holding Elsa, gaze drifting around, from the sword to the eyepatch, and closing.] I won't forget what you've done either. I'll be here, for as long as you need.

Edited 2019-12-28 07:09 (UTC)

[That gets a giggle out of Elsa. When she - somewhat reluctantly - pulls out of the hug, her tears are gone, but there's a smile on her face. Not a forced, tight smile trying to hide her true feelings, but a real one, with a sense of calm that hasn't been seen much on her since the incident with the poachers.]

So eloquent with your words.

[It's... it's okay to joke like that. Right?]

What I've done... I think you've done far more for me in this land, Cassandra. I only hope I can someday make it up to you.

[The hug breaks, but the warmth remains. Everything was... calmer, even inside of Cassandra. No more butterflies fluttering in her chest, no tension from the going-ons in Ryslig. In here, in this room, things were just fine.]

Hey. I try.

[But there's no harm behind her word. Cassandra's smile actually cracks into a laugh.]

I'm sure you will, not that you have to. Letting me stay in the castle with you and Anna was a good start.

[...] And, you can just call me 'Cass'. If you want.

Cass...

[It feels strange. Not in a bad way, of course. But it's so... personal. Is she really allowed to be that casual with Cassandra- Cass? Oh, this will take some getting used to...]

Oh please, that's nothing. There was no way I was going to let you stay out on the streets when I could've done something. It's just... what anyone would do.

[It's... hard to ignore how hearing that makes Cassandra feel. It's good though. Really. Amazing. Flusters her a little.]

Yeah I would have probably ended up attacking a car, or something.

[She shifts slightly, in tone and posture.]

I mean it. I'm not really... good with people, so having someone around that was from the same place as me helped.

[Two someones, of course.]

[Where Elsa's previous laugh was a light giggle, that gets a full-on snort from the nymph. She won't say it out loud, but she'd be absolutely unsurprised if her first run-in with Cass involved the other woman attacking a car. It's just... something she could see her doing.

...To be fair, she was pretty startled by cars too! There's no judgement here, just humor!]

... You know, you say you're not good with people, but I don't think so. [.... She sounds serious.] It takes a lot to be able to speak your mind without caring what other people say. I... admire that attitude, actually.

[Maybe she wouldn't be as blunt as Cass is sometimes, but. The courage is what she really admires.]

[Oh, a full-on snort. That's definitely someone she hasn't gotten out of Elsa, at least recently... she's taking that as a win no matter how dumb she feels.

...She would have absolutely attacked a car. It's a truth, stable and honest in her heart of hearts. Big, loud machines that can hurt you haven't had the best track record as of late in Corona. But then again, she was busy threatening shambling blobs of flesh as well, so.]

...You think so? To be honest, I'm not always... honest with everyone. I'll call it like I see it, sure, but opening up is... ehhh...

[She sounds serious as well, and Elsa should well by now why. She's heard the Rapunzel story.]

It's a lot easier speaking your mind when you don't have to talk about yourself.

I certainly understand how that feels. Maybe not the bit about being able to speak your mind, but being able to focus better on things other than yourself.

[Even in this world of magical monsters, with people from all different worlds and dimensions with vastly different abilities they once harnessed... it's hard for Elsa to talk about herself. Her magic especially. But there are also people who have helped her be more open about things like that.

People like Cassandra.]

But it's easy to talk about things with you, Cassandra. I... I haven't told everyone about my magic, you know. But I didn't feel afraid to tell you.

[I didn't feel afraid to tell you.

She was trusted with something Elsa wasn't comfortable showing everyone else. Cass could understand wanting your own secrets, of course, even in a world as large and complicated as Ryslig. Hell, Elsa had been one of only a handful of people who learned which way Cassandra... leaned.]

Wow, I'm... honored, Elsa. [And rightfully so. She gets it.] But then again you are one of the only people I've ever told about Raps. So I think it evens out.

Really, I'm glad you're not afraid to talk to me. That's something people should do, I guess.

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12/21

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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)