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[honorism]

[I'LL MAKE THIS LOOK NICE EVENTUALLY ISWEAR DON'T @ ME]

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text | sometime after the woods prompt (un: infinite)

[phantomruby]

[It's sometime in the middle of the day that Infinite manages to send a text out;]

This is Queen Helaena, correct? It has been quite some time since we last had the opportunity to speak; I wanted to see how you were settling in, your majesty.

I do believe I have also managed to attain an interesting specimen of insect for you, if you were interested in looking it over.

text; un: bugs

[honorism]

[! Oh, she recognizes that username!]

Yes, this is she. I am doing [hmmm] alright. Everything is a bit strange, but when everything is strange, nothing is strange. Day by day I will get more used to the strangeness. I can learn a lot, so I can't complain.

[!! NEW BUG]

Yes! [oh, wait--] I mean, yes, I would like that, to take a look. How many legs does it have? Does it have wings?

[phantomruby]

An interesting way of looking at it, but I don't find myself disagreeing. I may even say there's almost a monotony to our lives now, despite the circumstances.

I believe by my count that there are six of them, though this creature continues to vex me by not staying still even in this jar...it appears to have wings as well, though it seldom seems to use them? From my observation, at least.

Where would you prefer to meet?

[Her enthusiasm really is infectious; it's quaint, almost.]

[honorism]

[She could agree with that-- monotony. Once the awe of everything wears off, will she grow bored? So long as she has something to embroider she'd likely be fine. She's gotten by with little for entertainment but her own thoughts for a long time.]

Oh good, you got it into a jar. That will make things easier. [Did she think he was just standing around with it clasped in his hand...]

Are you still in the building they assigned us to? We could meet in the common room That would work well enough.

text -> action

[phantomruby]

[...She can't be thinking he was holding it in his hands, could she...first off, ew, second off, that poor little guy would be so dead and crushed and he'd have to go find another one???]

I am, yes; I can meet you there quite easily to pass this little one off to you. I imagine it will fare far better in your hands than mine. I shall await you.

...Though, if you do simply wish to grab it and leave once we meet, I can understand.

[Infinite does not elaborate any further on that; he's pretty...used to the fact that oh yeah, talking anthropomorphic animals aren't actually commonplace in a lot of worlds. But Infinite will wait for Helaena; he's sitting over at a table with the little jar and one grasshopper who is not exactly happy to be here. It even has some grass and holes on the top of the jar! How unbelievably ungrateful.

Still, when Infinite sees Helaena, he hesitates briefly before hailing her over.]

Over here.

text • un: aemond.targaryen

[perzyssy]

Where are you?

[honorism]

[metal gear ! alert in her head]

I want for a walk at the park, among the gardens. Is something wrong?

[perzyssy]

No.

( A minute of silence, then a second message comes through: )

Daemon claims that my care of you is sub-standard. I would not prove him right by not knowing where you are.

[honorism]

[oh jeez.]

If I was unsatisfied with my care, I could say so.

Do not prove to him that he takes up so much space in your thoughts.

[perzyssy]

But would you?

Would you tell me if I were lacking?

( Get a grip Aemond you know she's the only one who actually WOULD. Anyway, it must be the mania associated with extreme exhaustion that's got him acting unwise, because he continues on somewhat petulantly: )

I hate him, Helaena.

un: walrus

[mantlebearer]

[ apropos of nothing, the message finds her sometime after the search for kelesis. ]

Tell me, my lady, is your dragon as imposing as Vhagar? I'd heard the descriptions, but I confess my imagination failed me in that regard.

un: bugs

[honorism]

[!]

Have you seen Vhagar? She is a great and terrifying beauty, is she not? There is no living dragon that could match her in any way.

My dragon, Dreamfyre, is the second oldest after her, but not as large, no. She is on the smaller side as dragons go, but she is the most beautiful. Although, I fear I am quite biased. She is blue and silver and slender. Flying on her back is one of my greatest joys.

I wish I could see her again.

[mantlebearer]

Outside Kelesis, yes. The missing city had a curious effect of bringing to existence what you thought of... and you can imagine what it was that your brother conjured into reality. So, yes, I have seen Vhagar. Touched her, too, which sounds like madness when spoken of like this. I don't believe I have ever seen a more impressive sight.

So yours is called Dreamfyre. That is a pretty name, for a pretty beast, it sounds like.

What does it feel like, to fly?

[honorism]

I see. You are very lucky. Lesser men have wept in fear at seeing her. I'm not surprised he would conjure her up; he misses her more than anything else I'd say. Did he tell you anything of her history?

[She has to sit and think for a moment, closing her eyes to imagine the feeling again]

Freedom. It feels like nothing can ever touch you and the world below looks like toys. You and the dragon are almost of one mind. You are powerful, because they are powerful. The wind in your hair... I don't know. There's nothing else like it.

[mantlebearer]

I can see how that would be the case. However, I believe she is only fearsome if commanded to be... and I have no reason to believe that command would be given. But you're right, he seemed different with her. Almost like I'd never really seen but a part. As for her history... no aside from how he came to claim her.

I... cannot say I see, as I suspect that is something only those who have had the experience can claim a right to. But thank you for the description. I think I understand a little better, now.

text • un: aemond.targaryen

[perzyssy]

Helaena.

text; un: bugs

[honorism]

Welcome back.

[perzyssy]

I am sorry. I did not intend to leave you, temporarily or no.

[honorism]

Do not fret. I always knew you would be back.

How do you feel?

1/2

[perzyssy]

I feel as though I died.

I will return home as soon as I am able. I—

2/2

[perzyssy]

I wish to be close to you.

un: walrus, backdated to mid-september

[mantlebearer]

[ it's perhaps been a day. or two, or three — silver isn't entirely sure. he isn't sure of a lot of things, recently.

but during a rare moment he isn't lost in the spiral of grief, he picks up his syntrofos and writes. ]

Your brother is dead.

un: bugs

[honorism]

Don't be silly.

[The response comes immediately, though Helaena stands for a long moment afterwards just holding her syntrofos and staring off into the middle distance unblinking. He couldn't be. This wasn't his time yet.

This place was strange, and strange things happened, but he couldn't be. Not truly. Not really.]

[mantlebearer]

Trust me, I'm not. I am not lying, or mistaken, or anything else than speaking God's own truth.

[honorism]

No.

[She realizes moments later how petulant it sounds. She closes her eyes and takes a breath.]

He will be back. This is not how he dies. My dreams are never wrong.