#sbtrolls

Unfortunately, she'd sort of forgotten the location of Regali's hive beyond the general area and had to spend the last hour inspecting different mountains for lakes, but she was PRETTY SURE this was the right one. Finally. It certainly appeared to be a lake, at least, and she figured she might as well make the grandest, most respectable entrance she could in order to impress her highblooded credentials upon the seadweller she was visiting. There was only one thing for it. She urged Snufflebuggy closer to the water, carefully arranged herself on the saddle, and jumped.

The only real way for a seadweller to make an entrance was, of course, the time-honored cannonball.

Regali had been watching the path up the mountain, waiting for her seadweller friend to make an arrival. Admittedly, by path up the mountain she meant the least sheer cliffface, but one made do with what they had. Which, naturally, would explain how Molide managed to dive from the air straight into the lake which held Regali's hive.

At the splash, she had risen and returned to the water. Only ripples at its surface, though a creature flew in the skies above, led Regali to immediately assume where Molide had gotten herself off to. With a smile, she dived into the lake and began to descend, eyes wide open with excitement for her first meeting with the ever-energetic and apparent 'Queen of Party'.

Molide took the opportunity to stretch, having been cooped up on Snagglebutt for some time. Having freedom of movement again was nice, even if the change to freshwater was always a little jarring. She straightened her dress out as best she could with all the water and so on, and spun around looking for signs of her gracious host. Was she deeper down? Higher up? Movement in three dimensions was COMPLICATED. She settled for glubshouting. "Hey! Nouval! You here?!"

"I am, of course." Regali sped towards the voice echoing through the water, pulling up just before Molide. Her fellow was not in the same class of height as Regali, though little were, however managed to radiate a personality which no doubt would dominate the room whenever she felt so inclined. "This is my hive, after all." Regali bowed once, before raising her head with a deep smile. "My deepest thanks for agreeing to visit."

Molide waved her thanks away without another thought, grinning her most excited grin, so... more or less her default expression, really. She hadn't expected Regali to be so large, but she didn't let it shake her. After all, lower seabloods probably had to be big to serve as guards and such to higher ones, right? It made sense. "I wasn't entirely sure I'd gotten the right mountain. I hope you didn't wait too long, there was some wandering about involved."

"It is fine," Regali similarly waved away Molide's worries. "The passage of time only better serves to improve the ultimate reward. May I invite you into my Hive? I am sure it is not the most grandiose, but it has always served me well. I have been preparing for your visit since before it was first decided by either of us." Regali gestured at the small castle nestled at the bottom of the lake. Admittedly compared to most seadweller constructs it was small, but then most seadweller constructs could house a small army. For Regali eternally by her lonesome, the less empty space the better.

"You may," Molide allowed, graciously. The honor of inviting her in was no small one, and who was she to deny it to someone so obviously happy for it? As she began to dive deeper, she inspected the little castle closely, suspecting she'd seen the fishbowl accessory it was based on before. Regali's smaller hive seemed fitting; she certainly wasn't going to be throwing many parties up here, not with that walk. "What a nice little hive. You must find it very cozy."

"So much the better," Regali remarked, leading Molide down towards the entrance. "Even this 'cozy', when alone within it for so long it begins to feel far too large." That was truth enough, and one of the main reasons Regali was always above water, either on Trollian, visiting cities within reach of her mountain or just spacing out. Anything to not dwell on the loneliness.

Noting the subtle movement of breath to her left, Regali indicated, pointing out what at first may be taken as a huge twist of rock. The slight movements to it instead gave away the nature of her Lusus. "I doubt she would want to trouble you either way, but I suppose it is best she has eaten already," Regali commented lightly. Keeping such a beast in line was a full time job indeed, and most definitely the main reason for Regali's isolation. Stepping inside her hive, she turned around to make sure Molide had followed after alright.

"I wouldn't really know, it's a rare occasion when I'm not accompanied." This wasn't exactly a boast or any kind of jab at Regali from Molide's perspective, more a statement of simple fact and mild assertion of obvious superiority. She did take a moment to pause and admire Regali's lusus when it was pointed out; something like that was worth an extra bit of notice. She'd have to bring it a brownblood as a treat next time or something.

Not wanting to keep Regali waiting and therefore delay whatever it was the giantess had planned, Molide put on a little speed to catch up and entered right behind her, looking around curiously. She hadn't seen the insides of many other seadwellers' hives, after all, so she wasn't quite sure what to expect beyond 'tiny in comparison'.

Regali's lack of skill regarding interior design probably compounding the feeling of loneliness her hive gave her, as it was for the most part completely empty. What furniture and materials she had collected over her sweeps occupied the most used rooms, and it was rare for her to leave those when she was within the Hive. When Regali broached the subject of a visit, and Molide agreed, Regali had immediately begun preparations, mostly in preparing the most used rooms, dining especially, to look their best. This was little more than a rearrangement to handle the lighting down here better, and of course for Regali to collect more ingredients for food preparation, but it all contributed in the end. Leading Molide to the room joined to kitchen and dining, she invited her seadweller fellow to take a seat.

"I am well aware that your experience and skills for cooking surpass mine," she noted, having discussed the finer points of food preparation with Molide many a time in the past, "that said I would like to indulge in my speciality of salad preparation to offer you the best I can provide."

Salad was one of the few domains of cooking Molide hadn't bothered to conquer, in part because it was a little less likely to take poisons as seasonings very well, and in part because it had never been particularly exciting in the same way that, say, filet of endangered gorilla had. Still, she figured if Regali was willing to claim it as a specialty and offer it up as her best, she must have found some kind of art about it.

Molide took the nicest looking seat available, nodding agreeably and watching Rosali's preparations with a critical eye. Perhaps she might even learn something from this visit! That would be an unexpected bonus. "Let's see what you've got, Nouval."

Regali immediately took to her preparations, retrieving chilled leaf and plant, slicing and arranging. In the texts she had studied, for salad much more than many other foods, the form of presentation was both extremely customisable and similarly important to improving the experience. For the wild spirited Molide, the design would be reminiscent of an explosion, brighter colours centred in the middle while larger and more leafy sections spread out, creating both a swirl of colour and the impression of energy.

Most cooking Regali had only the most basic of interests in, but somehow working with vegetables and such caught her inspiration, drew her to exceed. Whatever it was, it was in this she took a deep enjoyment for life. When she finished, she extended the plate to Molide. "Please do indulge."

Molide inspected the salad carefully before even dignifying it with a taste. The presentation was a good choice, the ingredients appeared to be properly fresh, and Regali'd even opted to leave out any kind of toxic substances. She wasn't quite sure how to feel about that; it would probably improve the taste, but it was almost impolite to not try to assassinate a higherblood and take their stuff in her view. She supposed she could let it slide on this one special occasion.

Her first few bites were those of the experienced taster, slow affairs mostly involving identification of flavors and the way they complimented each other. After she'd determined that it tasted good and for the correct reasons, she saw absolutely no reason to feign politeness and refrain from scarfing it down -- it was much more important to be seen enjoying it than to eat slowly and properly, right? She suspected Regali could have a lot of talent in the kitchen arena, given time and practice. Perhaps she'd make a decent student.

While Molide was eating, Regali prepared a quicker meal for herself, and sat down nearby, enjoying it as she always did when she finished a creation. Seeing Molide tear into it after sampling it had relieved Regali a significant deal, and she was feeling far more relaxed now. It was rare enough that she even spoke with her hemosuperiors, let alone been around them. This was an important day for her.

"Besides planning, we have not spoken much lately," she finally began, after finishing her meal. "How have you been of late, Molide?"

"Oh, you know, excellent as usual. Absolutely swamped in party planning, that's nothing out of the ordinary, I've got this great trick in mind to play on this greenblood that ends in her actually turning purple and combusting, I'm sure it'll be a hit." Molide laughed a little to herself in anticipation of that hilarious gag, as casual about the suffering of her inferiors as ever. She thought a moment about how to continue as she picked at the remains of the salad, and didn't notice at all how rude these subjects might be when talking to somebody who spends all her time alone in a crater lake on top of a mountain.

"Acrire's been well too, I think I might be overfeeding her. I'm getting an introduction to fiduspawn on the side. What about you? Surely you've had something interesting going on down here."

"Not as such," Regali smiled sadly. Molide's casual violence against lowbloods wasn't something Regali partook in herself, but neither was it something she felt inclined to question. It was in the hands of one with blood as royal as Molide to decide what was and was not right. "I have attempting to invite many to visit me, but few show interest and fewer still make the pilgrimage." She let her hand drift above her, fingers twirling in her hair. "I think I may come on too strongly for most."

"Well, what type of trolls have you been approaching? Obviously not especially intelligent ones to deny you," Molide said, her concession to politeness for the next hour or so. "But perhaps there's a common thread there? I mean, I suppose some of it must be the location of your hive..."

"My hive, my Lusus," Regali shook her head, "No doubt many are concerned by my knowledge of the future. But any that I am led to I put to the test and very few show any interest. Only those most competitive visit, and often only once or twice at best." She gestured behind her, an open husktop on a table at the back of the room. "It seems almost impossible for me to maintain contact with one troll for any amount of time. You yourself are the rarest of the rare for your friendship - for which I cannot express my gratitude." Regali sighed, seeming to shrink into the lounge she sat within. "I often wonder whether there is something wrong with me that I have never noticed, to be avoided so, even though I am stranded so far out of the way."

Molide thought this one over seriously, folding her arms and leaning back. Was there? Regali could be a little silly about the whole future thing, but it wasn't like she did much harm. She was always a bit, well, passive. Perhaps that was the problem. Maybe Regali just needed a bit of Molide Acanth's Tips For Successful Seadwellers. "You're not particularly good at giving orders, people expect some authority out of purplebloods. Perhaps you're not coming on strong enough."

"You could also do with some extra aggression. Being nice all the time can be a bit offputting, people start to think you want something or are manipulating them. They like directness, especially if you order them to like directness, I find."

"Oh." Regali thought about this. Had she in fact been going about it the wrong way? She always thought constantly seeking out others and inviting them to visit was too strong an approach, but perhaps because of her far out location she needed to use even more force in her words to motivate them? That could certainly be a possibility. "I am... not sure how good I am at aggression though," she conceded after thinking about it some more. "I only really show that sort of attitude when drawn to an actual fight..."

Perhaps Regali was incomplete as a Seadweller and that was the reason she always felt so beneath the rest. Did she lack the critical key parts of her personality, the conquerer's instincts, that made Seadwellers naturally superior to Landdwellers? That could well be the case.

"Maybe... I should try what you advise."

"How much does your lusus need to be fed? Surely you leave the mountain sometimes, correct?" Molide continued to press the situation, glad to give Regali somewhat questionable advice. Surely nothing about it could possibly go awry in any way; making Regali a more proper seadweller was practically her duty, right?

"Perhaps you could start coming down a little more often, leave it with a decent bit of food for your absence. You could attend some parties, rub elbows with society proper. That could get your instincts going."

Regali hadn't considered this before. Often her Lusus expected her to provide food fresh, by which that meant it would drag random trolls from across Alternia back to the mountaintop and expect Regali to offer their bodies to it. It wasn't exactly the most... pleasant of activities, but after this long Regali had at least grown accostomed to it. But perhaps there were other ways.

"If I could keept a stock of food she would tolerate..." Regali began to sound out the words, "I might be able to buy a measure more freedom than I currently experience. It would come down to whether it is the food being there that matters or... me." Often her Lusus would demand Regali return from her trips early, or altogether prevent her from leaving, even after it was fed. Understanding the creature was a challenge at the best of times.

But then at other times she had all the time in the world. Perhaps if she were better able to predict its moods...

"I will look into finding a time that I may be free." Regali eventually concluded, putting strength into her words. "When that time comes, may I have the honour of visiting you, Molide?"

"Oh, I'd be quite glad to have you over! You'll love it, my hive is huge." Unlike her earlier off-hand condescension, this was quite overtly bragging; Molide had the advantage of having the greater majority of her hive in regular use to keep out the feeling of desolation haunting Regali's. Plus a whole lot of junk with wildly interesting stories about what sort of high society glubgrub had been 'accidentally' slipped sopor-laced cupcakes and passed out on top of it.

She let out a thoughtful hmm as she leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. There were surely more ways for Regali to exercise her freedom, it seemed like the poor girl had never even HEARD of rebellion before! "Your lusus probably sleeps some time, at which point you may assume yourself free. And if it's capable of eating non-fresh trolls, I'm sure it will when the other option is starving. What's the worst it can do, after all?"

Molide thought about that one a moment, imagining some rather nasty things the gigantic critter might be capable of, but shook her head. "Is she going to confine you to your hive? Then you can't go get her food. You're a strong young lady now, it's not the same as when you were a wiggler. Frankly, I very much doubt your lusus is more intelligent than you, there's no reason *you* shouldn't be calling the shots here."

"Hmm," Regali thought about this, but retained doubts. "The threat she poses is in the sheer volume of power she possesses," Regali moved her thoughts to words. "In one tantrum she can unleash great destruction. Because she is my Lusus, the responsibility to keep her from going on a rampage falls on my shoulders." That was how it had always been. To keep her Lusus calm and happy, so that she did not need to make a larger mess than she already did when she hungered. "I admit, it has drained me. I have often wondered whether I would be better off now, if she wasn't able to make these demands. If..." Regali paused. The words 'if she wasn't around' hung in the air.

"But it is fine," she shook her head after a while. "It is not long before I come of age. My responsibility to, and my position of power regarding her, will change then. Then I will be able to make my own decisions." Then Regali smiled, taking a moment to enjoy the thoughts of a future under her own command, one experienced instead of witnessed. "Then I will do what I want."

Molide leaned forward, properly engaged by the conversation now. It was encouraging to see Regali getting interested in taking back her life; you couldn't just be pushed around by big fish monsters all the time. That was simply no way to be. "It can be now, Regali. There are two methods I know. The first is to retrain her, to make it clear that her tantrums simply won't be tolerated. A slap on the nose and some firm words, perhaps, or just let them happen. The hunger will make her weak sooner or later, and she will understand that a threat won't get her what she wants."

"You could also poison her meals and solve the problem more directly, with less property damage," Molide continued, still in a plain, conversational tone as if talk of monster matricide was the most common thing in the world. Of course, it sort of was, to the kind of person who would include 'poison' right in their trolltag. "You do have sole access to them, after all, and all the opportunity in the world."

She had been thinking it. And she knew Molide had a far greater flair for the vicious than she ever could. But still, hearing it as words put Regali on edge. Like every thought she was having was being beamed right to her Lusus's mind, like she would open a blood red eye, stare deep into Regali and know all her secrets. "I..." she lost her voice for a moment, being caught up in thoughts, her mind racing over possibilities. She would need to know. She would need to look into the future to know. This wasn't a gamble she could take on her own. "I'll need time... to think on it," she finally concluded, shoulders slumping.

Molide nodded graciously, happy to have planted the seeds of rebellion. Sure, it looked like they'd need some time to grow, but what was it Regali had said? 'The passage of time only better serves to improve the ultimate reward'? Seeing her friend rise up as a proper seadweller under her guidance would be an excellent reward indeed, so long as she made sure to remember who got her there.

"Well, if you do come to a decision, I'm sure I could arrange something for you. There are ways to make it quite quick and painless," she offered, pausing to mull that one over again. "Or not, as you may prefer. Do let me know."

"Of course," Regali nodded once more. This discussion had taken a turn for the intense though, and was beginning to become slightly overwhelming. To turn the topic away, Regali settled on a lighter direction. "For now though, while you are visiting may I show you around? While no doubt you have a greater collection built over a more active light, there are still objects I have gained over the sweeps that I value. I would not simply invite you to join me for one simple meal." Regali stood, and offered a hand to the sitting Molide. This company was something she valued. Something she would strive to maintain no matter what. Molide was her friend. So Regali would trust her words. That was her nature.

Molide took Regali's hand, graciously allowing the slightly lower seadweller to touch her ever-so-royal personage, and got to her feet. She looked around the kitchen one last time before nodding at the exit. "Through there, then? I'd love to see your hive, Regali, I'm sure it's quite well-appointed, considering."