iconoclassist | (no subject)

(no subject)

[So. It's been a couple months, perhaps, since things became very strange for a certain elf and...probably pretty routine for everyone else in Aravalle. Sure, a small menagerie of woodland animals has managed to sneak into the castle grounds and disturb the poor gardeners and groundskeeper, and Shirin herself is actually remarkably difficult to find for anyone who can't track her by blood, but she's a quiet semi-permanent houseguest, and does her best not to disturb the staff while they wait for the masquerade to pass. She declined--vehemently to be seen in the capital; her being anywhere near politics was very unlikely to go over well with the elves and it probably wasn't worth international incident for Konstantin to bring a snack to the whole thing.

But now that things are due for a return from whatever ridiculous debacle the party was, certain elves are...oddly restless. Prone to pacing the length and breadth of the castle like some sort of caged beast. Unsettling the hell out of pretty much every member of the household and Aravalle's own court. Possibly pinning one noble to a wall with an arrow after he got too pointedly loud about complaining where she could hear. Things like that.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It doesn't actually take a lot of time. The Masquerade is not a particularly long event when you can't be out in public for most of it, so he has made his obligatory visits to the capital and returns under cover of night. Really, it's like someone let the tension out of the room when it's announced the lord has returned to the castle: maybe they were just that damned afraid of the elf.]

[To be fair to them, the more agitated she's gotten, the more...strange things have started to happen. Thorns on plants that don't usually show thorns. Wild beasts growing bold and terrifyingly intelligent across the entirety of the country. The castle roses growing almost entirely out of control.

An entire adult oak tree sprouting almost overnight in a courtyard.

Things like that. But once he returns, she's--well, she's too proud to seek him out. But she does stop stalking around the place and sits down under the tree to wait.]

Shirin...

[She can tell when he's entered because the room takes a chill too it, and the light seems a touch feebler. Despite all rumors to the contrary, when Konstantin hasn't been feeding he doesn't turn into a monster, but those dark powers do start to become something a bit more.]

I have heard quite a bit about my absence.

[The chill bothers her more than the dark--she's pretty sensitive to the cold, as it turns out. But she's also proud enough to suppress her shiver at all costs.]

Is anyone injured, your Grace?

Nothing so important that a medic cannot handle it. Why, are you disappointed? I wasn't aware I would be receiving wounded quarry as a gift.

I didn't shoot him for you.

[Making a grumbly, irritated noise. Come to think, even when she came here she wasn't in this bad a mood, was she?]

I think I'm within my rights to shoot someone for implying I'm a hooker. I was nicer than I could have been, even.

You certainly are, yes. Do you wish to talk to me? They told me you kept heading toward this direction when people thought our carriage had drawn near.

Konstantin, you effectively forbade me from leaving the grounds. I am bored out of my mind.

[Which is to say, she missed him but hell if she'll actually admit that to this smug motherfucker.]

Well, you were welcome to make the trip. All I have asked is that you admit you prefer your place here to the wall, or, accordingly, return to the wall.

I'm not bored enough to start an international incident yet.

[...She's not answering that second part, though. And may have become suddenly very interested in the ground.]

[He tilts his head at her some.]

...I'm still on the fence if I'll demand you dress as a servant as well.

I would rather go naked. [Flatly.]

...Really, didn't anyone ever teach you not to play headgames with your food?

You're a lot more interesting than any meal I've had, living or unliving. And if you're going to avoid the issue, I'm going to insist on further absurdities.

[He pauses, briefly.]

Really, you'd look rather nice in the uniform.

If I'm so interesting, why have you not considered normal things like asking me questions instead of continually trying to get me in a skirt?

Because I am telling you, the day you take my pants from me will be a cold day in Hell.

[She's still dodging the topic, and yet somehow managed to combine it with suggesting he pry more specifically. That's...special, Shirin.]

Fine. Are you willing to admit that you'd rather stay here than go back to them? Why are you so reluctant to talk to me about this? Have you considered that skirt comes with an apron and we have some of the finest textiles in the land?

[Really, she's going to find out that he is shrewd, and caring in his own way... but she's made this a hill to die on.]

...It just feels like this is some sort of game still, but these are deep, raw wounds you'd have me open up, and it isn't an easy thing to do that.

The apron is tempting, but it's no real substitute for total freedom of mobility. So again, no.

Life is something of a game, Shirin, given the incredible length and scope both of ours will run. I ask only that you would be so kind as to join me in the playing of it. Take that however you may wish.

And also consider how comfortable lace can be on bare legs and that as my personal servant you would answer only to me.

Have you worn a skirt, to verify this? I might need a demonstration if that's the case, Konstantin.

[She pauses for a while, clearly mulling this all over.]

Fine, but...not here. In private.

Edited 2015-11-29 09:13 (UTC)

[He chuckles, then.]

You are aware of where my chambers are, then, Shirin?

[He can slip across the room like a fucking shadow after saying that.]

[She might have muttered something along the lines of 'you little shit', but she's making her way to his chambers in spite of that, so.

She does look for somewhere to sit down when she gets there, and looks just...tired. More openly vulnerable.]

Please don't misunderstand. Very little of this really has anything to do with you, in the end.

Of course not. The scion of an out-of-favor ruling line must have her own secrets that make our dalliances look trifling. Tell me then, what significance would you have me play?

It's not really...[She trails off, and laughs, a little weakly.]

You ask me to state my preference, Konstantin, but it hardly matters. Here or at the wall is no different--the people here just fear me for far simpler reasons. And it isn't as though I can return there if I wanted to. They...would very much like it, if you were to kill me, the consequences fully draining me would have be damned.

I am aware of what they would like, what my servants would like, and what I would like. I will only ask you to tell me what you wish once more, Shirin.

I'm--I must take this circuitous route. This is difficult, for me.

All I've ever wanted was...was a home I could go back to. Nearly 200 years and I've never had that, to my memory. I'm not sure it's possible, as the world stands now.

[It may be becoming apparent that she doesn't know that the servants are fond of her, despite how terrified of her power's effect on the land they may be. Sadelf.jpg.]

You realize my staff is exceptionally fond of you, yes? Enough to where they would probably be rather thrilled if you became a permanent resident in this little menagerie of mine.

[He chuckles.]

If you wish a home, Shirin, I will offer you one, here...