#drolliic

"Your Majesty?" ah, he hopes that she won't notice the way his voice takes an uncertain undertone "I heard you wished to see me. May I know the reason for such a sudden call...?" part of him wishes somebody else would have come with him. He'd at least feel less like his insides are slowly being frozen if Lyney were by his side. Snezhnaya is such a cold and unforgiving place.

[ one Fatui lil birdie coming right up :3c ]

The room sits in crystalline silence, ice and frost in perfect stillness. For hours and eons, the Tsaritsa could remain seated upon her throne, as unmoving and unfeeling as a statue with her eyes falling closed and her thoughts continuing unheard.

But that is not the true reality of things, not forever, never forever, and so, eventually -

"You have been to Nod-Krai." It is not a question. Her Harbingers had all briefed her on the ongoings of that distant, disputed territory - the trials and tribulations, the beginning and the ending, who and what and where and why and how. "I thus offer my compliments to your efficiency and productivity - for every part has their role to play, and it would appear you have done well in yours."

A pause. It lingers long and heavy - and ends only when the Archon opens her eyes, finally gazing down at the young man before her.

"...And it is from that, that you have met the qualifications."

She rises - slow, careful yet imposing in the movement. "Despite the name, the Fatui are not fools. Ergo, neither are you. You are no doubt aware of what your fellow brother-in-arms is being prepared for in the coming years." The Tsaritsa turns her gaze to the side, idly watching the sights outside through the long row of windows that adorn the hall. "Of the duty—and the capability—to bear the weight of what shall come. The seat of the Fourth."

"Though Arlecchino shall remain for the long foreseeable future - in truth, no future is predictable, and neither must it be destined." She turns back to Illuga, watching him with no clear scrutiny or intent - but watching, nonetheless. "You are among the possibilities submitted to me. And so, your measure must be taken - in every way that this seat warrants."

The air in the room seems to shift with her words - becoming colder and heavier, every breath weighed down with snowflakes and hail crystallizing within the lungs in an instant. Yet, there is no malice to any of this.

No darkness, no emotion, no motives. Just the ice, just the Tsaritsa, approaching as a blizzard in nature would - simply, plainly.

"Child of my hearth. Tell me—" Her voice is quiet, her gaze distant. "What does your tomorrow look like?"

Stares expectantly with her big empty shiny (in the sense that they're like smooth rocks; dark, flat, smooth brain indicator) eyes. @drolliic will address her with the proper respect and decorum (and sense of amusing defeat), yes?

Unprompted Asks (Tea Party lol) // Accepting! → @drolliic

Fine – can't really complain about this one since he's not disrupting her poor garden. Well, she will complain a little before bringing him a blanket to keep warm.

"'Til death do us apart'? Yeah, no, as if I'm letting you go that easily!" and laughter, manic, bordering on something more. Teeth barred to show tiny fangs on full display, pupils blown out. To say that he's enjoying sparring with Childe is putting it lightly.

[ [ STAB ]: sender stabs receiver. ]

@drolliic.

he hates, hates the fact that the way lohen attacked was more artistry than violence, how what would have been a fatalistic blow to a lesser man instead only stunned childe into something like a stupor. whatever footwork stopped momentary, the musical number of clashing blades in their heads coming to a discordant stop as harbinger’s hand lowered to his abdomen, feeling the warm pooling blood soak his glove before ever feeling fiery sting as it began to coarse through the rest of his body. blood wretches from the harbinger’s mouth, viscera streaking across palid skin as he moved to wipe it away and stalk back to his assailant with dizzying determination.

the legacy would not allow its host to die, it barely allotted childe time to rest before blood was demanded for blood. whatever healing salve upon the blade only doubled his remarkable healing progress, flesh and muscle knitting together before childe had any chance to treat it. this was the might of the eleventh harbinger. but he had to admit, it had been some time before an opponent had landed such a precise, beautiful strike. shock turns to elation, the feral gleam in his eye reflecting a foreboding attack.

          “   is that the best you can do, knight of favonius ?   ”

his words came out a gleeful sneer, as the dance between blades resumed, frostbitten metal and riptide blades moving as if in harmonic sync despite the damage they continued to inflict upon the battlefield ; water, drenching and cutting. ice, sharp and deadly in its wake. gods, he was having the time of his life against this vice captain. each alternate vocal a mix between barely restrained laughter, and a short lived cry of triumph. one more hit, one more strike. block, parry, counter attack. childe didn’t have to move anymore, he moved with the knight as if on pure instinct.

it only took one lucky strike to gain the upper hand. wrist pinned, dagger locked in a battle of sheer strength as childe’s hydro blade pressed down more and more force, crushing lohen to the abandoned ruin’s brick lay.

          “   should have slid that knife deeper.   ”   voice a breathy rasp, eyes dark and intense.   “   should have dug it in and twisted, caught it on my insides.   ”

🌼🐌 answered asks ! // VERY SPECIFIC MUNDAY ASKS ( accepting ! )

@drolliic sent: 💭 Replying and writing opens: Yes or No? Why? // 🪼 How many languages do you speak? //🥤 Favourtie drink while writing? // 💕 Say something nice about your own writing. // 💫 Say something nice about a random mun.

💭 Replying and writing opens: Yes or No? Why?

📖🍯 OOC. 100% yes to both--especially if the mutual is new ! I think they're a great surprise for both writers 🥺 it's like showing spontaneous interest--you're taking initiative, in a way--& there's something quite special about that 🌼

🪼 How many languages do you speak?

only one fluently 😔 english. very disappointing, I know. I used to be more fluent in italian ( lived in italy when I was very young ) & somewhat familiar with spanish, but now the two are quite mixed, so I sound a little silly when I try to write / speak either language 🤪

🥤 Favourtie drink while writing?

my signature cup of decaf coffee ☕ nothing beats it, truly !

💕 Say something nice about your own writing.

it's improving, & I've noticed ! 📖

💫 Say something nice about a random mun.

@tellescope / @starlighttrain offers something that's genuinely rare & immensely precious to find nowadays in the rpc, & that's a tender devotion to / a sincere interest in the dynamics that you develop together ! not only is their writing & portrayal(s) some of the most beautiful work I've ever seen, but they are also so incredibly INVOLVED in everything we do 😭 they come up with the sweetest, most thoughtful ideas, & then !!! when you least expect it, they'll surprise you with the CUTEST stuff you've ever read 🥺 they're such a fantastic writer, & I'm so grateful to have them as a mutual 🌷 my writing experience on tumblr wouldn't be the same without them !

  ･❪ ❁ ❫･ " Wipe that smirk off your face! " Whatever he's up to, she didn't like it. What's more, is that he's in the MaNatura orchards looking as if he's up to something. One wrong move and this mischievous weed was going to find himself extremely lethargic the next day. If he had any sense of self-preservation, then he likely heard the rumors about the garden and what happens to those who take from it without asking.

  Honestly... all it takes is one question and even that seemed to be too much for some.

  " State your business. Unless you're here to assist in the upkeep of this place then I suggest you keep your visit short. "

"Do you not think it strange that you're the only waiter?" although the bistro isn't big enough to warrant the need for more. Even one more, at least, would be nice so they can work in tandem. Regardless, Star leans cheek in one hand and reaches with their other hand for the suspended dish -- their, what, third?, dessert at this point. "It's almost as if you're being run ragged on purpose. Surely such an important place cares for its employees, no?" no, not really, the way cooks suddenly quit says otherwise, but maybe he is different. Vincent has odd tastes in more ways than one, after all.

[ hi Casi <3 Rody's turn to be bullied <33 ]

Answered! || @drolliic

Rody had been poised to bustle off to another table when the customer's question gave him pause. For a moment he only blinked at them, as dumbfounded by a patron trying to converse with him mid-shift as he was by the question itself.

"Uh, I mean—? I guess?" Sure, in the twenty-eight other service jobs he'd had previously, he couldn't recall any other restaurant that tried to operate with only one person on the wait staff. But La Guele de Saturne wasn't very big, and the small daily menu helped streamline things...

"Vince must not think we need anyone else, though," Rody said, shrugging with his free hand rubbing at the back of his neck. It'd be nice to have some help sometimes, but it's not like he was in charge of making those decisions. Realizing belatedly that he shouldn't be agreeing with anything that could make it sound like he was bad-mouthing his boss, Rody quickly set the dessert down on the table and waved his hands in the air.