defyingfrigidity | [ryslig IC Inbox]

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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)

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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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