[How does Waltaquin sleep with an entire bed to herself? Actually, pretty well, all things considered. It's much better than sharing. One would almost think that she hadn't just had to deal with the tragic loss of two of her cabana-mates just a week prior, were it not for the strange, plucked-chicken-shaped animal she now keeps in her bunk with her, something she certainly.
She's also under no illusion that she and Psyche are growing closer for any other reason than their forced proximity. They are the only two remaining: For them to visibly turn on one another now would just cost more in the long run. They are not friends, but seeing her so regularly has given her at least a little fondness, a little familiarity.
As they enjoy the solitude of their treatments in the seacave adjacent to the spa, Quin grows tired of listening to the water drip in silence. She appears still perfectly relaxed when she barrels in with a real lead of an opening question.]
[ It would be silly after everything that's happened for Psyche to let herself just think of this place as relaxing. It's not that easy to forget what kind of events immediately precede a new island appearing. But even so, it's nice to spend time with Waltaquin someplace that isn't their now conspicuously empty cabana. Even the empty bed — strange as it was at the beginning to be cramped into such a small space with someone else — is a little sad.
She glances over in surprise at the question and hums a little in thought. ]
I'm not sure. There are people I miss from home... not that I want them to be here, though. [ Is that the same thing? She gives a little laugh. ] What about you, Waltaquin? I don't really know much about what your home is like.
[Do you miss sleeping with her Psyche, is that it? Are you sad to not share a bed with her anymore?
There's nothing they can do immediately to share their circumstances, so Quin sees no harm in the indulgence for now. They can always think of what to do next, scaffolding the moves they'll make. Without the disturbance shifting its way across the island, without knowing when the malaise and apprehension will be back, there's just preparations to be made.]
I wouldn't mind seeing a few familiar faces around. [Her tone is detached and semi-pleasant as always, but there's clearly something deeper there.] It does get dreadfully lonely, now and then, and I'd like to hear their perspectives on this business.
[And see if any of them had the strength to survive, of course.]
But, well, now they get bonding opportunities that aren't only about the forced proximity? Psyche leans forward, expression bright with curiosity. Waltaquin always seems so composed that it's a little surprising to hear her admit to being lonely. ]
I keep thinking the same. Every time something happens, I want to run to my friend and ask her what she thinks... Sometimes I try to imagine what she'd say. I don't know if she'd be impressed by my impression of her, though.
[ Probably not. Maybe sometimes. Psyche shakes her head a little. ] What are your friends like?
[i'm so happy that psyche is beating comphet for pride month. good for her]
Well, I don't know her, so you should try it out on me. I won't be able to judge you.
[It might provide a few short moments of amusement at the very least. Girl bonding time! She lifts her head a little at the question, then laughs, a smug little smiling settling in across her lips.]
Oh, they'd hate it to hear you call them my friends. We did not part on the best of terms. [I actually felt kind of bad for Waltaquin writing that, which worries me.] Perhaps I could strong-arm Andrias into agreeing with it... or Izelair; she strives to please everyone. Both my fellow associates in the Blue Foxes.
That sounds a little embarrassing. ...I think you might like her, though.
[ It's hard to guess, when she doesn't know enough about Waltaquin to know what she likes. But she gives that comment a worried little frown because darn it, Waltaquin is cute and deserves good things (citation needed) ]
Oh, were you fighting with them? [ That hits a resonance... ] I hope you can talk things through with them when we get back. Had you been working together long?
[ Blue Foxes... Waltaquin mentioned that name once in a meeting? But she can't remember what she said about them. ]
Would I? I don't like many people. [There's a certain freedom in being able to say that... one gets the sense that she usually has to build her way up to such honesty.] Since you're the one saying it, I'll have to believe you.
[That brings them back to the Blue Foxes, many of whom she's not sure she could ever have said she liked very much.]
We were together for quite some time, long enough to see the company's reputation grown significantly thanks to our actions, and to witness the escalation of the faction conflict.
Ideological differences surrounding said conflict are what drove us apart in the end. I don't think any manner of debate is going to change where we stand.
HELP I AM SO SORRY ABOUT MY INBOX........ vanishes sheepishly into the mist
[ Maybe it's strange, with Psyche's temperament, but that gets a little smile from her. ] That's a little like her, too. I like your honesty, Waltaquin.
[ It's a charm point! She sinks down a little to relax, propping her arms on her knees as she watches Waltaquin's face. ]
Oh... a little more than just a disagreement. If it's something you both believe deeply, then... I wonder if there's any resolving that. They'd have to want to change, or you would... [ Hmm. Psyche's gaze goes absentminded, like for a moment she's seeing something else entirely. ] What was the conflict? And... what was the difference?
jasdklas IT'S OK even if you deleted every single notif from me ever......i forigve you
The Shaytham dynasty is at a crossroads. The royal princes are currently locked in an embittered battle for the right to the throne. [She's condensing...this says nothing about the riots, the employees of both factions falling on hard times, the Lords Council and its intrigue, the peasants rattling their bars for democracy -
She folds her hands together over her stomach, tilting her head back. For a rare instant she looks troubled.]
One of my fellow heads informed us, guided with Rias, that he was in fact the late Levantia Shaytham, fourth son of the king and long believed dead. He asserts he has been concealing his identity all this time as well as his Mark of the Blessed, a holy birthmark of the royal family.
[Her gaze returns to Psyche. Does she understand?]
[ Maybe it's not just the flickers of resemblance to Medea that make it so easy for Psyche to feel — "comfortable" might not be quite the right word for what she is with Waltaquin. Familiar, perhaps? Their worlds really are a surprising amount alike.
Psyche takes that in, watching Waltaquin's expression with a little frown. She's still only a student of these things, but the way Waltaquin talks about them... that's a little like Medea, too. A trail of clues, a look that says "are you following me?" that makes her want to prove that she can keep up. ]
Mm... and you don't believe him. A lost prince appearing out of the blue when everyone is struggling for the throne is like something out of a storybook, isn't it? But... people would like it. It's romantic. [ In the fairy tale sense, anyway. ]
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week 3, wednesday
She's also under no illusion that she and Psyche are growing closer for any other reason than their forced proximity. They are the only two remaining: For them to visibly turn on one another now would just cost more in the long run. They are not friends, but seeing her so regularly has given her at least a little fondness, a little familiarity.
As they enjoy the solitude of their treatments in the seacave adjacent to the spa, Quin grows tired of listening to the water drip in silence. She appears still perfectly relaxed when she barrels in with a real lead of an opening question.]
Do you ever feel homesick at all?
no subject
She glances over in surprise at the question and hums a little in thought. ]
I'm not sure. There are people I miss from home... not that I want them to be here, though. [ Is that the same thing? She gives a little laugh. ] What about you, Waltaquin? I don't really know much about what your home is like.
no subject
There's nothing they can do immediately to share their circumstances, so Quin sees no harm in the indulgence for now. They can always think of what to do next, scaffolding the moves they'll make. Without the disturbance shifting its way across the island, without knowing when the malaise and apprehension will be back, there's just preparations to be made.]
I wouldn't mind seeing a few familiar faces around. [Her tone is detached and semi-pleasant as always, but there's clearly something deeper there.] It does get dreadfully lonely, now and then, and I'd like to hear their perspectives on this business.
[And see if any of them had the strength to survive, of course.]
no subject
But, well, now they get bonding opportunities that aren't only about the forced proximity? Psyche leans forward, expression bright with curiosity. Waltaquin always seems so composed that it's a little surprising to hear her admit to being lonely. ]
I keep thinking the same. Every time something happens, I want to run to my friend and ask her what she thinks... Sometimes I try to imagine what she'd say. I don't know if she'd be impressed by my impression of her, though.
[ Probably not. Maybe sometimes. Psyche shakes her head a little. ] What are your friends like?
no subject
Well, I don't know her, so you should try it out on me. I won't be able to judge you.
[It might provide a few short moments of amusement at the very least. Girl bonding time! She lifts her head a little at the question, then laughs, a smug little smiling settling in across her lips.]
Oh, they'd hate it to hear you call them my friends. We did not part on the best of terms. [
I actually felt kind of bad for Waltaquin writing that, which worries me.] Perhaps I could strong-arm Andrias into agreeing with it... or Izelair; she strives to please everyone. Both my fellow associates in the Blue Foxes.no subject
That sounds a little embarrassing. ...I think you might like her, though.
[ It's hard to guess, when she doesn't know enough about Waltaquin to know what she likes. But she gives that comment a worried little frown
because darn it, Waltaquin is cute and deserves good things (citation needed)]Oh, were you fighting with them? [ That hits a resonance... ] I hope you can talk things through with them when we get back. Had you been working together long?
[ Blue Foxes... Waltaquin mentioned that name once in a meeting? But she can't remember what she said about them. ]
no subject
[That brings them back to the Blue Foxes, many of whom she's not sure she could ever have said she liked very much.]
We were together for quite some time, long enough to see the company's reputation grown significantly thanks to our actions, and to witness the escalation of the faction conflict.
Ideological differences surrounding said conflict are what drove us apart in the end. I don't think any manner of debate is going to change where we stand.
HELP I AM SO SORRY ABOUT MY INBOX........ vanishes sheepishly into the mist
[ It's a charm point! She sinks down a little to relax, propping her arms on her knees as she watches Waltaquin's face. ]
Oh... a little more than just a disagreement. If it's something you both believe deeply, then... I wonder if there's any resolving that. They'd have to want to change, or you would... [ Hmm. Psyche's gaze goes absentminded, like for a moment she's seeing something else entirely. ] What was the conflict? And... what was the difference?
jasdklas IT'S OK even if you deleted every single notif from me ever......i forigve you
She folds her hands together over her stomach, tilting her head back. For a rare instant she looks troubled.]
One of my fellow heads informed us, guided with Rias, that he was in fact the late Levantia Shaytham, fourth son of the king and long believed dead. He asserts he has been concealing his identity all this time as well as his Mark of the Blessed, a holy birthmark of the royal family.
[Her gaze returns to Psyche. Does she understand?]
no subject
Psyche takes that in, watching Waltaquin's expression with a little frown. She's still only a student of these things, but the way Waltaquin talks about them... that's a little like Medea, too. A trail of clues, a look that says "are you following me?" that makes her want to prove that she can keep up. ]
Mm... and you don't believe him. A lost prince appearing out of the blue when everyone is struggling for the throne is like something out of a storybook, isn't it? But... people would like it. It's romantic. [ In the fairy tale sense, anyway. ]