rediscover | ryslig

[So uh. Today was something, huh? As if the other night wasn't bad enough, with Javert showing up on their doorstep and revealing what had happened to Varian, the way everything just. Exploded on the network... it's left Elsa feeling a bit drained. She doesn't like feeling angry, she doesn't like the bitter burn at the back of her throat as she went back and forth with Javert over the network... she just needed to calm down for a while, and what was the best comfort Elsa had right now?

Her sister, of course. Spending time with Anna always made her feel better. So as things on the network begin to wind down, Anna will hear a knock on her bedroom door, a familiar tap ta-tap tap tap echoing against the wood.]

Anna? Can I come in?

[It makes her feel a little bit guilty, the way she's been hiding from everything going on. She's a queen, she should be trying to fix this. She should be helping keep the peace, not...hiding in her bedroom. But it's all so stressful, considering the who and what of the situation, and she's worried about Varian, and Elsa and Cass are both mired in conflict...Everything happening just seems a hundred times scarier and more dangerous than what she's dealt with back home.

It's easier to just stay in here with Nisser and try to keep herself distracted.

Which means that when Elsa knocks, Anna jumps guiltily, sending the kitten jumping out of her arms with a reproachful, scratchy meow. She clears her throat, instinctively patting down her leafy hair as if she's got a cowlick.]

Yeah! Of course, come in!

[It's hard, dealing with what's going on in the world right now. They were never taught how to deal with uprisings, or whispers of treason, or their people tearing each other apart. Their parents, and their tutors after them, always taught them how to rule justly and fairly so that such things would never happen. So Elsa doesn't judge Anna at all for not knowing what to do during all of this.

Besides, above all else, before being a monster or the Fifth Spirit or the ex-Queen, Elsa is Anna's big sister. She made sure Anna stayed out of sight when Javert's men - and later Javert himself - had come to Solsikke, and she's more than happy to see that Anna's trying to stay out of all this drama. She's not happy, Cass isn't happy... she doesn't want Anna to be unhappy too.

So when she steps into her sister's room, Elsa lets a tired smile cross her face.]

Hey... is everything okay?

[The moment Elsa steps through the door, Nisser starts to wind around her ankles, purring loudly as he does. Anna's worried expression eases a little bit both at the sight of her cat loving up on her sister, and at the sight of Elsa herself. Sitting cross-legged on the end of her bed with a journal lying open on the duvet, Anna nods, and motions for Elsa to come and join her.]

Yeah! Yeah. Just... [Her smile twists ruefully.] Everything going on has me a little overwhelmed right now.

[Elsa lets out a laugh as Nisser rubs up against her. Such an affectionate little thing, and a perfect companion for her oh so affectionate sister. And it's sweet how the kitten isn't skittish with them at all, despite their strange appearances. Still, Elsa's very careful as she reaches down to scratch behind his ears, indulging him in a little bit of attention before she picks him up into her arms.

They might need a cuddle buddy after today, honestly.]

I don't blame you. Everything... [She lets out a sigh, the smile fading from her face.] Everything's spiraling so terribly. I need to step away for a bit... think you're up for stepping out too? I'm sure you can use some fresh air.

[Luckily, Anna has been sure to train Nisser to be a polite little goblin-cat; he keeps his claws to himself and only struggles for a moment before he gives up and settles into Elsa's arms, purring just as loudly.

As for Anna, she studies Elsa's face with a hint of worry; she feels guilty that Elsa seems to have been doing the brunt of the worrying, along with Cassandra. Which is why Anna nods so enthusiastically at the idea of getting out of the house for a bit.]

Yeah! I think that's exactly what I need. [Anna scrambles to her feet, shucking off the dressing gown she's sporting over her clothes.] We could go walk in the woods...?

[Elsa doesn't mind being the one to mainly deal with this at all. Someone has to be the sunny, calming influence in this house, and it makes sense for it to be Anna. She'd rather see her sister smiling, instead of seething with anger like this.]

Sounds like a good plan. The trees are all starting to change colors now; it might be nice to chat them up before they start losing all their leaves and getting cranky all winter. [She laughs again.] Maybe we can help calm a few down too.

That's a very good point! Oh, I was thinking...d'you think some of them might like a scarf or something?

[It seems silly, but Anna knows all too well how much the trees hate the cold...and how some of them seem to expect the peninsula's nymphs to take responsibility for it. Maybe it'd be just the right gesture to make???

Either way, Anna's donning a long, burnt-orange cardigan and already making for the stairs as she talks!]

Scarves....

[Oh.... that's actually kind of cute. As Elsa ponders this idea, she grabs a dark purple cardigan from Anna's closet - they're sisters, okay, Anna should be used to Elsa borrowing her stuff! - and wrapping it around herself before following after her.]

Oh! How about skirts, like the sort you wrap around the bottoms of christmas trees? we can cover their roots, to protect them when the snow starts falling, and maybe do the same for some of the more fragile flowers in the garden.

[Anna doesn't even bat an eye; Elsa and her wear the same size, and especially now with none of the pomp and circumstance of their royal selves, it's easy to swap casual clothes.

There are stairs, of course, but Anna's so eager to get out of the house that she opts for a classic banister slide instead. At the bottom, she hops off, dusting down her skirt, and grins.]

Oh, like a tree skirt! That's even better. Why didn't I think of that?

[Elsa, meanwhile, takes the stairs down like a normal person, good-naturedly rolling her eyes at Anna's antics. Some things really never change, huh?]

Exactly! Even if we can't keep them warm, at least we can keep their roots dry. And if we make them for the trees outside the castle, then it can be a good signal to visitors that they're close.

[Or, you know, a target too. But Elsa's no longer as pessimistic as she was before her coronation. Even after all the terrible things that happened to them here... she can't fall back into that kind of anxiety. Not again.]

Ooh, I'll bet they're going to be so happy and cozy!

[Anna spends a moment picturing what it would look like if they put little pompom hats on top of all the conifers...but decides almost immediately that it's probably more cute than practical.

As they reach the front doors, Anna reaches for Elsa's hand and keeps a firm grip as they walk across the small bridge connecting the castle to the gardens across the moat.]

Do you ever think things will stay calm here for longer than a week?

[It's almost instinctual, the way Elsa's fingers thread through Anna's as her sister holds her hand. There are few people that Elsa truly feels comfortable with in terms of holding hands; sure, she'll reach out to help someone up, but just holding her hand like this? It's still mainly just Anna and Cassandra that get to do this.]

... I don't know. I want to believe it, but... [She lets out a sigh.] If it's not one of the gods or their followers causing trouble, it's an unnatural disaster, or the poachers, or one of the monsters here. There's a cycle, and I don't think we'll ever be able to break it.

[Elsa's been trying to get better about not being so pessimistic, but... well. It's kind of hard to do that, with everything that's thrown at them as the months tick on by.]

... I miss Arendelle.

[Anna is normally the optimistic one, a role she's rarely had trouble playing until recent times. Maybe all the constant struggle is really starting to wear on her after all. She shrugs her shoulders, her gaze swinging toward the ground as they crunch through autumn leaves on their way to the forest.]

I do, too. At least when weird stuff happens there, it's just...

[She has to stifle a laugh.]

It's just us.

[That gets a somewhat tired laugh out of Elsa, as well.]

Yeah... even if there's still some collateral, like Arendelle freezing over or the spirits chasing everyone out of town, at least none of our people were seriously hurt. I'd much rather whatever danger is out there focuses on me, and not them.

[And now, with her realization that she's one part of the bridge that connects the spirits to the mundane, it's not just Elsa's own self-sacrificing attitude speaking there. It's her duty to protect Arendelle and the Forest, and she'll put herself between her people and any incoming threat without hesitation.]

When we return home, we should declare that day an official holiday. A kingdom-wide day of rest. I'll even make sure the Northuldra take it easy as well. Just... a day to spend time with the people you love.

And we fixed it. We figured out the problem, and we made it right. Here, it's just...

[Anna gestures vaguely at the sky.]

Helter skelter. There's no fixing it. There's no magical key to make the Fog God stop torturing everyone, or to make the Fourth God stop trying to control everything.

[She shrugs, giving Elsa's hand a squeeze.]

I couldn't agree more. I'll write it into effect whenever we do go back for good.

[That squeeze is returned in full. Even the smallest bit of comfort from her sister will always be appreciated.]

There has to be a way to fix it. [It's not really optimism, more... a slight hint of desperation.] I can't... I can't believe that we'll keep going through this over and over until it just stops.

[She doesn't want to keep hurting anymore. She's tired of hurting other people, and she's tired of being hurt.]

I want to be able to show Cass Arendelle, and the Forest. I'm happy with here, and I'm happy I met her here, but... I'll be happier with her, with you, back home where we belong.

Of course! I feel the same way. It's...I don't know, some people would probably think it's stupid to hope for that someday, but I really do think we'll be able to go home someday.

[Anna's rather somber expression turns into a playful grin.]

And your girlfriend would be able to visit Corona anytime she wanted, too. It'd be kind of perfect, huh?

O-Of course, she'll be free to travel between our kingdoms without any problems. Nothing too complicated about that.

[Ah, that gentle rib seems to break the somber attitude that was threatening to fall upon them; Elsa's cheeks flush a reddish-green, and she lets out a somewhat childish huff.]

And what about you, hm? Have you considered the idea of showing your new lady friend our home?

[Anna nearly stumbles mid-stride over absolutely nothing, she's so taken-aback by Elsa turning the question around on her. The nymph queen sputters for a moment before finding her words.]

Wh—! I don't know what you mean.

[Wow, has the sky always been this interesting???]

[This is Elsa's chance. To take revenge on Anna for all the times she teased her about Cass, for all the little pokes and ribs and jokes her sister has thrown at her over the years since her coronation!!

... But at the same time, Elsa's big sister instinct will always win out against her teasing streak, so while she does reach up and pinch Anna's cheek with a giggle as her sister stutters, there's also a completely non-mocking smile on her face.]

Anna... you know it's incredibly difficult to hide things from your big sister. And you know it's okay to talk to me about anything... right?

[Anna laughs, jerking her face away and giving Elsa a shove on the shoulder.]

Yes, of course. It's not that I didn't want to tell you, just...

[Anna's shoulders shrug, wiggling a little, an expression of nervous energy.]

It's really new? And I'm not a hundred perfect sure she feels the same way, so. I'm just along for the ride.

... Will you ask her, eventually?

[Again, it's another missed opportunity for a joke, though this time at her own expense; she could say don't be like me and leave yourself pining for months, but this is... serious. Elsa won't kid around when her sister's happiness is up for discussion.

Above all else, she wants Anna to be happy. She wants Anna to be able to love, to thrive despite their current horrible situation. It's all she's ever wanted for her sister, and nothing will ever change.]

You deserve to be as happy as you can, Anna. I know it must be... complicated, with your relationship with Kristoff, and the, ah... situation that you don't remember, but I hope you do what truly brings you joy.

"Huh?"

Anna's taken off-guard by the question, and her glance Elsa's way is quickly taken back as she looks toward the sky, cheeks flushed. Overhead, the trees seem to be whispering to her: Your sister's right.

Maybe they are actually whispering to her, even.

"It is complicated." Anna can admit that readily. "Kristoff and I, we're married. But I was married to someone else before that...does that make it better or worse?"

I don't think it's better or worse. They're just... two situations where you followed what you believed to be your path of happiness. And with her... however this ends up, you shouldn't deny yourself love like that.

[She spent too long doing that to herself. Even in this world, she'd spent so long denying her feelings for Cass because of the idea that she had to marry some nobleman back home eventually. It's one reason it took so long for her to gather her courage to talk to her now-girlfriend.]

Kristoff... he's a good man. With or without your relationship with him, I love him like a brother. He and I share the desire to see you happy, no matter what, so I think... [She lets out a slow breath. It's hard to speak for others...] I think he would just want you to follow your heart. It might hurt, but seeing you happy might be enough to make him happy.

ryslig | rsdos

[Action; 9/26]

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