defyingfrigidity | [ryslig IC Inbox]

Because it's you!

[Where a moment ago Elsa was almost too still, now she's a flurry of movement, pulling her hand away from Lup's and jumping to her feet, stepping back a few paces. Her arms are tucked in tight against her stomach, like she's trying to hold herself together, and her expression falls into a mess of horror... and guilt?]

I... I wanted to hide it... I had to. [No matter how hard she tries, Elsa can't hide how her voice shakes as she speaks now.] But no matter what I did, nothing helped. I... I didn't want to start ignoring you, but...

[conceal, don't feel. conceal, don't feel... don't feel...]

I'm sorry...

[It's easily the loudest Lup's ever heard Elsa speak.

And okay, so maybe she should have seen this coming, with the sudden awkwardness between them as of late, how there were moments Elsa just couldn't meet her gaze, how she'd go completely still beneath Lup's touch. The constant flirting and teasing probably didn't help either, but look, that's just all part of the Lup brand. She can't just turn that shit off whenever she wants. It's just who she is.

Still, maybe she should have been just a little more aware, especially since now they are here, with Elsa pacing around wildly, looking so much more open and vulnerable and raw in her emotions than she's allowed herself in months.

But whatever reaction Elsa may be expecting from the older woman, whatever disappointment or anger or concern she thinks she'll see flash across Lup's face, it must be quite a surprise to just see the elf laugh. Softly, not cruelly, a clawed hand already reaching out for her.]

You are the biggest friggin' dork I've ever known. And I know a lot of dorks. C'mere, Elsa. You're fine. [her voice dips down to something softer, more kind] We're fine. I'm not pissed or whatever. We're chill, girl. We're good.

Edited 2018-12-31 00:30 (UTC)

["You're fine." Fine??? Elsa's not fine. She's never fine. Sometimes she feels okay, but there's always that hum of anxiety under her skin; it may be barely noticeable on some, maybe most days... but it's still always there. And now...

Well. Now she's glad that her powers were taken from her, or else she's sure she'd be freezing over the entire cafe at this point.]

I-I can't... [She shakes her head, taking another step back.] We're not... how are we good? I shouldn't be having these feelings in the first place, but I do, and... I told you...!

[Even if it doesn't happen now, things can only start spiraling from here...]

I... I promise, I'll try to get over it soon.

[Welp. This suddenly feels awkward, but maybe not for the reason that Elsa might assume. It's probably not too much of a surprise that Elsa isn't the first friend of Lup's to develop a little crush on her over the last two hundred years. And she's absolutely not the first to make a bit of a scene in professing those feelings.

It's always been so easy for the elf to laugh that kind of adoration off with an affectionate shove to the shoulder, to tease the offending party and make light of the situation. To chase the worry and awkwardness right out of the room. But Elsa's reaction, all hurt and panic and uncertainty in the status of their relationship, that's new. New in a big way. Just the kind of seriousness that Lup tries so often to avoid.

So as easy and it would be for a large, snake woman to chase after the little nymph, Lup lets her take her step back, putting a touch of distance between the two.]

We are good, alright? We are. [It's just a shame her words aren't getting through to her.] Hey - listen to me. Why do you think we're friends?

[The words both do and don't get through to Elsa. She can understand what Lup's saying, and a part of her wants to be relieved, because at least Lup is taking all of this seriously. But there's still just... everything else; the first time she's ever had feelings for someone being unrequited, the way she just blurted it out like all the self-control she fought so hard to master was all for nothing...]

... What do you mean? [Why....?] Because... we got along?

[Proof that self-control is fake, obviously.]

Cuz you're a good friend, nerd. You've got a big heart an' you're funny an' you were one of the first monsters here to help me out, even when I was kind of a giant bitch.

[Look, you don't crawl out of a living, flesh wall and manage to smile the rest of the day. You just don't.]

Pretty sure I scared the shit outta you and you still wanted to help me. You're good, Elsa.

[... Okay, that gets a somewhat holly, shaky laugh out of Elsa.]

On more than one occasion...

[Remember that time you threatened to set the poor nymph on fire?? Because Elsa sure does, and looking back on that incident, it was kind of funny. It... doesn't quite break the tension, because Elsa's shoulders are still locked up like a soldier's on inspection, but it feels a little less like her gut's twisted up like a spring ready to pop, and she's not as sickly pale green as she was moments before. Still... she's keeping her distance, and not looking Lup in the eye.]

"Funny"... that's a new one. Everyone always called Anna the funny one out of the two of us, never me.

[Deflecting again?? Elsa??? Psh what are you talking about.]

[Considering how desperate the young woman looks, Lup will take that short laugh as a victory. It's a start.]

Sorry, hun, but I'm callin' horseshit on that. You're hilarious.

[Sure, a lot of times they've been brought together by Drama, but Elsa and Lup have also just hung out to hang out before, and Lup's always left the other's side feeling warm and light from how fun it is. Under that shy exterior, is a pretty bomb girl.]

And before you try an' disagree, we both know Anna would so take my side in this. You're funnier than you think. An' just lots of fun too.

Now that's just cheating.

[Even with the laugh and halfhearted smile, neither of them really reach Elsa's eyes, which are still very pointedly avoiding Lup's. For now, they're focusing on her hands once more as she fidgets.]

... I don't think I've been very fun lately, though. I'm sorry.

[Cheating is a big part of the Lup Taaco brand, thank you very much. She'll take that compliment.]

Hey.

[And maybe it's a little too soon, but Lup's held back for as long as she can. She slithers forward, just close enough to reach out and grab Elsa's hand.]

We've both had a rough time lately. S'not our fault this place too our siblings. You're good, Elsa. And you and me? We're fine.

[Lup will be able to feel the way Elsa flinches at the touch, but now she doesn't pull away. It might not be a bad sign, that, but with how jumpy Elsa was until now... it's not exactly good, either. Because Elsa wants this, wants the feeling of someone's hand around hers... but she can't have it.]

Not only that. Just... everything. Avoiding you. Dumping all of this on you. I never wanted any of that to happen. I was so worried about the potential of ruining things that I almost did so by trying to prevent it...

[Elsa may flinch, but she accepts the touch, which means she better be ready for what comes next. Lup's bigger, faster, definitely stronger, so good luck getting out of the hug she drags the younger woman into, skinny arms wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her close.]

You're fine, babe. I'm not even pissed. Was just a little worried, y'know? But this? We're so good.

[Lup's not an expert at these kinds of situations for sure, but look, she's trying her hardest to help ease the other woman's hurt, to make her feel like she doesn't have to hide.]

And for the record, if you were a little older, I'd hit that. You're a total babe.

[For a moment, Elsa tenses, because she has to keep it together she can't cry when she feels that hug and how nice it makes her feel because she can't have that and--

.... And then Lup says that and the sound that Elsa makes can only really be described as an embarrassed, somewhat mortified squawk as she pulls away, her face such a dark shade of green it almost looks purple.]

Y-You-you what?? That's-- [THAT'S PROBABLY INAPPROPRIATE???] That's--um! Okay?

[oh god please strike her down now she has no idea what to say to this. Can she deflect again without making it awkward??]

You. H-How old do you think I am?

[WAIT NO THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE SHE'S HOPEFUL OR SOMETHING--]

[Well now, that sure was a sound.

Lup doesn't let Elsa get out of the hug so easily, but she does pull back just enough to catch the other woman's face, to see the way she flushes dark, stammering so cutely against her. Now this is the kind of reaction Lup is more comfortable with, her expression shifting to something soft and teasing, the corners of her mouth curling upwards.]

Fair warning, elves age way differently than humans, so don't get all huffy with me for guessing wrong. [She wouldn't believe how offended folks get when they ask an elf to guess their age.] But like, I'unno, thirty-six? Forty? Pretty young either way.

[... Oh, right. Lup wasn't human before arriving in Ryslig. Elsa knew that elves (well... the elves in the stories she read, at least) and other creatures similar to fae had much, much longer lifespans than humans, but that sort of... never really sunk in until now. She's not offended or anything, it's just??? weird???]

I- ah... I wish I could say you were close, but I'm twenty-two. Which is past the age of adulthood in Arendelle, though I suppose some from other worlds might not think so...

[God, why is she even telling Lup this?? It's making her look pathetic, insisting she's an adult after what Lup said, after vomiting up her feelings like that and resigning herself to the struggle of getting over this crush...]

N-Not that any of that matters... um. [Her blush doesn't fade at all, but a hint of hesitation begins to bleed into the embarrassment.] You... you should probably let me go now.

[so she can go bury herself in a hole and not come out for a few weeks]

To give you a little perspective, hun, I'm over two hundred.

[Enough to be Elsa's great, great, great grandma, almost, if not more. It's a big difference, one that Lup really can't just ignore, no matter how close in age they appear to be.

But Elsa's got all awkward in her arms so of course the elf is going to let her loose when she's asked, Lup slithering back as best as her body allows, just to give Elsa a little breathing room. This isn't done, not exactly, but she understands if the younger woman wants some time to herself to think it through.]

Sure, I get it. And I'll give you whatever space you want, but we're still friends, Elsa, alright? This doesn't mean we aren't good.

[As Lup releases her, there's a sharp pang in Elsa's chest, and whether it's from disappointment or something else, she's not sure. But either way, it hurts, and she once more wraps her arms around herself in that gesture of anxiety that Lup knows so well now.]

Good... yeah. [Elsa's not sure if she believes it, but at least she's listening when Lup says it this time. That's... something.] I don't know what I'll do, but I'll just... I'll figure all of this out. I promise.

[Pause.]

And for the record, you don't look your age at all.

[... it's a joke?? do those jokes fly well with people who live hundreds to thousands of years???]

No doubt.

[Because of course Lup can be there for her every step of the way, but so much of this is going to Elsa working through it, dealing with her own feelings, striving to find the balance that she needs to find a little peace in her life. It sounds impossible now in the middle of everything, when she probably feels like her own feelings are strangling her from the inside out, but Lup has faith in her.

Elsa will be fine. They'll make it out on the other side in no time.

Maybe to most folks, now would not be the time for jokes, but Lup appreciates a break in the serious always, her smile curling just wide enough to show a flash of the fangs beneath.]

Bet I don't look a day over a hundred.

[Lup's faith in Elsa is something that will never fail to confuse the nymph. She falls apart here, so obviously unable to successfully squash down her feelings... and Lup believes she can crush this crush? Even Elsa isn't sure she can do it; after all, it took her so long to start coping with all the bad feelings she bottled up after the start of her isolation... how long will this take? Having to push back a good feeling, after realizing that good feelings are supposed to help her?

This is all a mess.]

You really don't. [And yet she still tries to joke. Because the more she doesn't focus on these feelings, the easy it is to wrangle them into that familiar dark, guarded corner of her heart.] I bet you could even pass for ninety.

[Is that too young?? Is she pushing a weird line here???]

Ninety! [The naga pushes her shoulders back and grins, brushing the long braid of her hair over her shoulder. Even if there's no missing the tension dropped down onto their shoulders, Lup hopes that Elsa will be able to find some peace even with this between them. Lup's not quite as loving as her husband is, not quite as big-hearted and adoring as he is, but she's long since learned that loving someone isn't a bad thing. Even if they don't quite return the feelings, just being capable of that feeling is uplifting and incredible.

Elsa's little crush on her may feel like a death sentence right now, but maybe it will pave the way for other loves to blossom, for Elsa to find a younger woman to fall in with. Admitting feelings is one thing, but admitting your feelings for another girl are something else. It's a good step to finding out what she's into.]

Keep flattering me like that and I'll never leave. [Not offensive at all, apparently.] You're gonna be alright, Elsa. I promise.

... I hope not.

[With a chance to get ahold of herself, to once more reign in and shove down her emotions into something more manageable, Elsa no longer sounds on the verge of tears or a breakdown. But her words there are... careful. Because she means it, but at the same time, she doesn't want her words to come off as crossing a line.

Even if Lup was casual about flirting, Elsa... can't really be like that. So she has to figure out how to say things that she means that can't be misread.]

I know it's selfish of me to wish that someone would never leave this place, and I would never want to try and make you stay, but... e-even after all of this... you're still the best friend I've ever had, Lup. I don't want to let that go easily.

[Which is why she was tearing herself apart these recent weeks. She knew her feelings would never be reciprocated, that was fine - even though it still made her heart sink like a stone every time. It was just... the thought of losing Lup, of putting some sort of wedge between them and not having her close anymore that was making her sick.]

[Elsa's lucky that there are so few lines to cross with Lup and that when conversations take a turn for the truly serious, she can put her teasing aside to be there for the people she cares most for. It's not always her strongest trait, but no one is quite as determined as Lup Taaco.]

Hey, I get it. I also don't think it's selfish of you. When Taako left, you know exactly what I went through. Of course we both think our siblings are happier back home as opposed to being stuck here in monster town, but that doesn't make it hurt any less. We just want 'em around. That doesn't make either of us assholes. I want my friends around too, 'specially in a place like this.

[There's a lot to unpack, of course, worries about the end of the year quickly approaching and just what is going to happen to this plane when they leave, but Elsa doesn't need to hear all of that. She doesn't need that worry on her too.]

I'm right here, babe. Not going anywhere. And for what it's worth, you're one of my best friends too. Never had a lot of girls to talk to before, it's kinda dope. I think you'd get along with my other lady bee-eff-eff, if she ever drops back in here, I'll be sure to introduce you.

Edited 2019-01-28 02:33 (UTC)

[I'm right here. Those words are supposed to be comforting, and it does help a bit of the tension ease out of Elsa's shoulders... but it also hurts a little. Not because of Lup, god no, but it thinks of all the times she's had to push people away because of how she was feeling, how that made her dangerous... and she knows she has to stop doing that. So maybe... maybe all of this was a good thing. It hurt as bad as any of the physical aches that came with her changes into a monster, but maybe it can also help her grow. Help her learn to move past those kinds of hurts instead of always holding on to them and letting them eventually tear her apart.

That's kind of scary, but. She'll try.]

Now that has to be a lie. You've really never had many female friends to talk with? With the way you act, I can't imagine you were one of the most absurdly popular people from your world.

[Lup has a feeling that Elsa is gonna crush it. May take awhile, but she's already seen the start of some growth there, she knows the young woman will come out victorious in the end.]

You aren't wrong, but lemme just say, there's a big difference in bein' popular and havin' friends.

A hundred-some years without anyone but her brother, wonder how much Elsa can relate to that, hm?]

I'll tell you about it sometime, how's that sound? We can get coffee an' chat, hang out proper.

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