forum Songs of Storms and Magic // oxo // private, stalking welcome

Started June 22, 2020 by @croccin-champagne

tune

Zarya clapped her hands together, and for another brief moment, showed more emotion than her normal expressionless face. She looked excited. "Ah, perfect! I do love a good festival. The music, the dancing–I am sure you can imagine why the former calls to me–and the good food. Crowds are not the best, but people do get so lively during events like this. Do you two go? Or perhaps have some sort of role?" Back home, the royals and the High Sorcerers all had roles in festivals of history, often partaking in parades, making speeches, or in Zarya's case, performing shows of magic for the people. There had even been a year where the princess had convinced them all to wear disguises and perform in a play, and at the end, announce who they were.

"I do, yes. My brother…does not do so well in large crowds, so he will likely only participate in the palace festivities, rather than taking part in the parade that happens, or mingling outside the palace." Rose said. The excuse of Korain not doing well in crowds was…partially true. It was just that most would assume that meant a panic attack, where it really meant…well, sort of a panic attack, and then turning into a monster and slaughtering innocent people. Which of course would not be good in any way. Not at all.

"That makes sense, honestly. It would be hard to enjoy something so fun, if you were to force yourself to partake in parts of it that made you uncomfortable." Zarya said, nodding in understanding. The same way she often had to step away from any events involving fire, even after her experience with the prince of Vyrnia, and despite her friendship with her country's High Sorcerer of Fire. Though, she didn't turn into a monster. Not that she would know, yet, that that was a feature of Korain's dislike of crowds. "What is it you do, then, your Majesty? For the festival?"

Rose hummed faintly. "Well, my job is to oversee the festivities, really. I recount the story of the battle, as well, and I take part in the parade. I don't know. My job is to see and be seen during the festival, to visit and talk. My family line is still the same one that was the first rulers of this country, and so I… suppose I remind them of that, too. See, the first king was the hero of that battle, and his descendants have ruled ever since."

"So you are as much a piece of their history as the festival itself." Zarya said, nodding once. "I shall have to see how it is different from our own of similar source matter, the cultural differences will likely be a fun little thing to note. Pardon the change in subject, but how close are we to the rooms? I may need a map of the palace, if the size is as large as it seems." With that, the corner of her mouth flicked up in a half smile, a response to her own joke.

Rose laughed quietly. "Well, I'm afraid we slowed due to talking. We are nearly there. And the palace is not nearly so large as you may think." she smiled faintly. "Just a little confusingly laid out, is all. If you really do need a map, let me know and one can be provided."

"I do think I may take you up on that." Zarya took up picking up the pace. Not enough to put her ahead, but more to nudge the others. She was, admittedly, beginning to feel the effects of being in a new place after a long journey. Though she likely wouldn't sleep, rest in the form of reading would be perfectly fine. "I am looking forward to this visit. Your Kingdom is one I have yet to visit, obviously."

She nodded a little. "Of course. I shall send a servant to you with one, or perhaps two. One for you and one for Markus." After another minute or so, she stopped in front of a door. "These are your rooms, and the next door down is for Markus. There is an adjoining door between the two." She gave them both another regal, but genuine smile.

Markus returned the smile, while Zarya gave a nod. He was the one to speak for both of them. "Thank you very much, your Majesty. Your hospitality has been incredibly warm and welcoming, which is much appreciated. We'll do our best to fully express our gratitude while here." He took a short bow, glancing to Zarya as if reminding her. It didn't seem needed, as she was already mid curtsy, eyes closing briefly.

"Allow us to get out of your…hair. That is the saying, I believe. Simply call on us should there be anything you need us for, we will be readily available." Tilting her head slightly, Zarya allowed a small smile to grace her lips, hands clasped in front of her.

Rose laughed a little. "That is indeed the expression. Of course. I'll be seeing you two again sometime, then." She said with another smile, returning their bows with a nod of her own.

Korain blinked, a little startled, and then gave a nod of his own. He seemed a little vacant, sometimes, like he was having trouble focusing. Today wasn't really a good day, not for him. Some days he was as normal as anyone else, but…today wasn't really one of them.

As the two royals left, the Sorcerers entered one room, Markus immediately throwing himself onto the large canopy bed with a long sigh.

"What a drama queen." Zarya muttered. She was glad to see their few bags had made it via the servants, rifling through one of her own as Markus grumbled something unintelligible. "You have to speak up darling. There is hardly a point insulting me if I cannot even hear you."

"I'm the drama queen?" Propping himself up on his elbows, he shot a tired look to his friend. She didn't seem bothered, already setting up her hygiene items–there were a lot–at the vanity in the room. "After that showcase you made of our arrival? It's like you're trying to get us kicked out."

"Of course not. I am simply making sure that everyone is aware of my abilities. If they focus on my magic, and flair for the dramatic, no one will pay much attention to my listening. It is a subconscious thing. There exists something to focus on already, leaving the other things I do less notable, especially when concealed as normal."

"That's absolute Sand-Mite dung."

Huffing a laugh, the Sorceress shrugged a shoulder in admittance. "Mayhaps. But you have to admit, it certainly made a good show."

Instead of responding. Markus tossed himself around, burying his face in one of the many pillows.

((figure some quick interactions, and then a skip?))

(sure!)

Rose looked over at Korain as they started walking back towards the throne room. "Korain, how are you doing today?" She asked softly.

Korain blinked, focusing on her. "I…don't know." He said slowly. "It's…fuzzy today." He ran a hand through his dark curls, shaking his head a little bit.

She nodded slightly. "Alright. Do you want to just go back to your room and rest for a while?" She knew her brother would always need help with this, probably for the rest of his life. She knew that he couldn't control it, and she didn't blame him. Not anymore.

He shook his head slowly. "No." He said softly. "I'm…I'm okay."

The two Sorcerers spent a good two hours in each other's company, trading jokes and discussing the excitement of being in a new place. Still, something loomed over them. A cloud, heavy and foreboding, always in the back of their minds to remind them why they were here.

This was no leisure trip. Unfortunately for them, most never were.

Luckily, Zarya had experience on her side, as far as sneaking around went. Markus, not so much. But that's why they made a good team. Hopefully, this would be no different.

"Ahban, you wretch, did you eat one of my ribbons again?"

At Zarya's questioning, the small water snake on the vanity coiled up guiltily. Very faintly, it hissed, almost as if responding to her. All she could do was huff disappointedly, and the poor creature almost seemed to droop at the reaction. Still, it stayed coiled.

While her familiar was busy eating ribbons and getting caught, Zarya herself was getting dressed. She planned on attempting to go out. So instead of her normal coat, she opted for a cream-colored skirt, the garment ankle length and featuring a slit in the side that showed the shorts underneath. Paired with said skirt was a blue silk shirt tucked in to the waist just enough to keep it there, with long and large sleeves.

After making sure to tie her boots so they wouldn't come undone while she was moving, she checked over her hair. Everything was in order, as always. All then that was left was gathering her troublesome snake and leaving the note for Markus.

It was early in the day, likely somewhere around eight in the morning. It was likely enough, but she still hoped to find at least one of the royals, to get permission to leave. She wouldn't be out for long, but often she'd found that royalty saw un-per missed leaving as an insult. And she needed to be allowed to stay as long as possible.

((can't find anything directly matching the skirt but as a skirt, so imagine a pencil skirt but not. it's straight all the way down to her ankles and with the slit, but it's made tight up where it starts at the waist, because it's supposed to hug your figure until your figure starts to thin cause legs. i think there's a dress out there that matches it but uuuhh. fashion is important to me))

Rose was training with one of the guards, dressed in a pair of leggings and a long shirt that came down to the middle of her thigh. Her soft dark hair was tied back in a braid that was more serviceable than fashionable, and she wore no crown, or even jewelry. On her feet was a pair of leather boots, worn and old, but of a good make. All in all, she looked nothing like a queen, more like a peasant girl if peasant girls learned swordplay.

The guard was a good six inches taller than Rose, if not more, and he didn't seem to be holding back as he battled his queen, the clash of their swords ringing through the training grounds.

Wisps of hair floated around Rose's face, having escaped their braid, but she didn't seem to notice.

Korain was still asleep, lying on his bed with the blankets tangled around his body, evidence of a night spent tossing and turning.

(Alright!)

((i know i talk too much but i did find something that works as a reference, however, it's on pinterest))

It was fairly easy to find the Queen. Zarya had come upon upon a young guard, who seemed all too happy to let her know the Queen was training, and walk her to the training grounds. She wasn't sure if it was true, but he claimed her path was along his own. Either way, it benefitted her. He took to holding up a conversation almost entirely by himself, not really noticing Zarya's lack of a talkative nature.

He seemed sweet. From what she gathered, as he proceeded to dump his entire life story to her while escorting her, he was a year younger than she was. Grown up on the grounds of the palace, he said, chasing his father's career as a knight.

When they eventually made it to the training grounds, it didn't take much for Zarya's attention to be drawn to Rose.

"Her Majesty trains with you? Does she not have a private teacher?"

Rin, the guard who had walked here there, shook his head. "If she ever did, it wasn't while I was working here. She's out here regularly to spar. Which is fair, I guess. Sometimes the people protecting you aren't quite enough, and aren't always there. I think it's smart to make sure she's always ready to defend herself."

They came to a stop just close enough to watch, but far enough to not get in the way. And Zarya found herself enraptured, much the way others tended to become around her, by the way Rose fought. It wasn't decorative. No fanfare, or showy moves. It was, honestly, the kind of fighting one learned to defend themselves in the face of harm.

"She's quite the Queen."

(I'm at my grandparents house rn and they don't have internet controls, so I can see Pinterest links for now!)

Rose eventually called a halt to the spar, straightening and sheathing her sword, chest rising and falling with quick breaths. She looked over to where Zarya and Rin stood, and started over, grabbing a flask of water and taking a sip. "Can I do anything for you?" she asked Zarya, cocking an eyebrow at the other woman. A thin sheen of sweat lingered on her forehead, and she stayed slightly further away than she normally would, since she was sweaty and panting from the exercise.

The guard she had been sparring with had sheathed his own sword, and got his own drink and a towel. He brought a second over for Rose, handing it to her with a nod.

She took the towel and returned the nod with a smile, wiping off her face and hanging it around her neck. The guard looked like he was in his early thirties, with a wedding ring on his finger.

((oh yay! it would be like this just longer and obviously cream colored. also not sure what the layout related to the palace is so let me know if i'm wrong lmao))

Zarya nodded, stepping forward. As she did, she took a half bow at the waist almost in greeting. "Apologies for bothering you, your Majesty. But yes, I am here hoping that you can help me. I wish to visit the city outside the palace. I read somewhere that it is known for a large amalgamation of merchants." On the more respectable side of her interest, she had been looking for the perfect gift for a friend back home. On the less, she was also attempting to track down a certain someone.

Rin stood in the same spot, seemingly unsure whether to leave or not. Zarya figured there was a chance she'd need his guidance again. He wasn't watching the Queen though. His focus, with an almost enraptured attention, was on the Sorceress speaking. Her curse, as she called it. Beneficial only sometimes, were her looks and the aura she put off. Often though, they presented a distraction. She blamed weak willed men.

(ooh pretty! Alright lmao)

Rose nodded a little. "Of course. Would you like me to send a guard with you, to help guide you?" she asked, capping the flask and setting it aside. "The official marketday is tomorrow, and that's when vendors will come from the towns and farms nearby, but there is still a good-sized market right now, that of course you can take advantage of if you wish to." her gaze flicked to Rin, and she sighed faintly. Try as she might to make sure all of her guards were good men, there was no controlling their stares. But then, there was of course a difference between staring, and harassing, and so far Rin seemed only to be staring. She didn't want to even try to count the number of guards she had had to investigate and then throw out for past behavior towards women. andrew (Our Supreme Lord and Overseer), the guard she normally sparred with, was a good man. He and his wife had been married for seven years, and their oldest child was five, a darling little boy with a gap-toothed smile and his father's brown hair.

Zarya considered the question for a moment, hands clasped neatly in front of her. "Actually, I would like to ask you to accompany me." It served two purposes. If she could convince Rose. She could possibly fish for information, and also just learn more about the Queen. She was a fascinating person, judging by their letter correspondence and the things she had gathered.

"Consider it an offer of a break from your duties, just for a bit of time. You could show me around, and I can offer my companionship, as well as pay for any expenses. I have been told I am a 'absolute hoot to be around', though I am not quite sure what that means."

Rose blinked, a little startled by the invitation, then nodded slightly. "That does sound like fun." she replied. "Although I shall need to wash off and change before going anywhere; I cannot wander the city dressed like I am now, after all." she gestured to the clothing she currently wore, one side of her mouth quirking in a faint smile. "So if you will allow me a half an hour or a little more than that to bathe and change, I would be glad to accompany you." she was beginning to find herself a little fascinated by the magician, whose magic was so different from her own.

For just a moment, Zarya couldn't help the soft–but brilliant–smile that crossed her features. "Of course. I owe you no less." Zarya glanced to the still loitering guard, and then back to the Queen, eyes shimmering slightly in the light. "Might I walk with you? I do believe I am taking up too much of…Rin's time." That was mostly true.

Rin beamed, apparently surprised that she had remembered his name. "Ah, uh, yeah, might be a decent idea for me to get back on patrol. Your Majesty, miss Taj." After bowing in farewell, he began to leave, sparing one last glance over his shoulder at the two.

Rose smiled again, glancing at Rin as he walked away, then returned her gaze to Zarya. "Of course." she started walking, rather expecting Zarya to fall in beside her. The towel was still slung loosely around her neck, her eyes still sparkling from the exercise. Usually her sparring lasted a bit longer, but with today's interruption it would be cut short. She didn't mind that, though; she had still gotten in some sparring time, and that was what mattered.

"How long have you been fighting?" Zarya questioned as she followed, coming to the queen's side before matching her pace. "You seem practiced. If I had to assume, you appear more skilled than fresh knights." Once again, her hands came to clasp in front of her, the ends of her sleeves accentuated by the collection of gold bangles on each wrist. As always, she was put together. Almost immaculately so, which was her goal. Dressing confident had always guaranteed a bit of confidence for her, which in turn offered the respect of her peers.

Rose looked over at her, considering the question. "A long time." she replied, considering for a moment longer. "Probably since I was 16. Korain is better than me, though." he always had been. He was a natural swordsman, whereas her skill came from diligent practice, built up over years. That wasn't to say she didn't enjoy it, she did, but it didn't come to her in the same natural way that it came to her twin brother. "I actually…when we audition people for the royal guard, I make them fight me. If they can beat me or we come to a draw, they're in. If they lose, they're out. There's no point in having guards that can't even beat the monarch they're protecting, after all."

Zarya's lips twisted into a smile that was half awed and half proud. She had full respect for her princess, but something about Rose was built for being a queen, strong on all fronts. "Brilliant. I cannot say I am much of a swordswoman, but I like to think I handle a knife well. Does your proficiency only lie in the sword? Or other weapons as well? Dare I ask, as well, how you handle fighting against or wielding magic, your Majesty?" Zarya herself preferred a knife when the fighting became physical. It didn't often come to it, but she took pride and comfort knowing she was well prepared. She had her mentor to thank for that.