appointments

[meritocracy]

APPOINTMENTS FOR NATALIA
Need to reach Natalia for threads or plots that would otherwise be difficult to do,
such as one-on-one meetings, interactions and run-ins. Please specify ahead of time in a PM or in the subject line.


"I will do everything in my power as the
 Princess--no, as a citizen of Kimlasca."

Comments

[Action, February 12th]

[dissonates]

[It's like his prayers have been answered (for once); a mission, of all things, right before that damned romantic holiday. He's been worrying and gradually getting more and more cranky about the whole idea, so to receive a summons now is nothing short of a miracle.

Still, it does leave him with the unfortunate issue of Luke... his replica had only just returned from his kidnapping, and his health is going to be gradually deteriorating for a while, and while it's not like Asch is worried-

...okay maybe a little concerned, but death isn't even permanent-

...oh, dammit. Whatever, the dreck is hopeless on his own and needs someone to keep an eye on him during Asch's absence, especially during an exceedingly stupid experiment that is sure to arrive in a matter of days. So off he goes to the house where he knows at least two women who will surely be happy to get the job, assuming Xion doesn't beat them both to it.]

[Action, February 12th]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia is reading a book in the kitchen when she notices someone out the window. That someone being with redhair and a familiar face. She can't help the fact that her lips twitch a little. She's getting used to Asch being alive.

Seeing him--she realizes it's okay, it won't hurt her to be happy--happy to see him.

So she goes to the door, opens it and offers a smile. ]

Asch! What are you doing here?

[Action, February 12th]

[dissonates]

[gawd natalia he doesn't even get a hello Asch inclines his head a bit in greeting, one hand resting on his sword belt. He's armed, with a supply pack slung over one shoulder; it's pretty clear that he's on his way somewhere.]

I need to talk to you.

[Action, February 12th]

[meritocracy]

[She notes this and her expression becomes a bit more serious. ]

I see. Very well. Won't you come in? I can make decent tea.

[Action, February 12th]

[dissonates]

...Mm. [Asch follows her inside, scuffing snow off his boots and glancing around. He doesn't see her housemates- that should make things easier. The last thing he needs is Anise teasing him about a private visit or something.]

[Action, February 12th]

[meritocracy]

[she starts boiling the water]
Have a seat. We can talk as it makes.

[Action, February 12th]

[dissonates]

[Asch nods, taking a brief glance around the kitchen before seating himself at the table, resting an arm against it. This is only the second time he's been to the house, and last time he'd only made it to the couch before he crashed. It's nice to be upright and healthy enough to walk without staggering around.

Smalltalk and beating around the bush have never been his strong suits, though, so.]

I'm being sent out on a mission today. I'll probably be gone most of the week.

[Action, February 12th]

[meritocracy]

[she pauses mid pouring of the hot water at that, but just like that resumes what she's doing. ]

Oh? What sort of mission?

[February 12th Early evening] [After thread above]

[meritocracy]

[After Natalia is certain Asch has left, she leaves her vigil from the window, then quietly, almost woodenly, sits on the steps outside the porch. ]

This..this is good news. [Drip.]
I hadn't expected him to..to accept those terms. [Natalia stares startled something wet makes a circular stain on her white and blue outfit, followed by another.

Drip.

She starts laughing shakily.]

My, that's..I wonder--[her hand goes to the side of her face, and there are tears steadily rolling down her cheeks. her mouth is still in a slightly disbelieving smile, her eyes wide as she keeps her hand there, as if frozen.

This proves it's the end, isn't it? The truth she wanted to ignore. She doesn't know him.

But she..she can start again. It's like the culmination of her journey suddenly weighs on her shoulders, Luke, Asch--all the memories. All the people she's lost--the new chance, the beginning of something with hope stretched in front of her.

If she takes it will it be in vain? Will she just lose more than she did before?

Soft, quiet sobs fill the outside of House 1. A disbelieving laugh escapes Natalia's lips as she tries to wipe her tears, only to realize she's the one crying. Yes she's..--the tears won't stop.

Sorrow. Grief. Happiness. Fear. All these emotions are so tightly bound in her heart that she can't seperate them anymore.

She buries her face in her hands as her shoulders begin to shake. The tears..won't stop. The memories--won't go away.

Natalia curls her knees to her chest. She hides her face. She tries to get in a breath.

She cries.]

[February 12th Early evening]

[silversnowfall]

[Well.

A princess in tears on the front steps is never what you expect after a trip to the bakery.

Nephry stops several feet from the house, debating the best way to approach her. Whether she should be approached at all, or left to her emotions in relative peace.

...Well. She shouldn't sit crying outside, at least. There are better and more comfortable places for that. Taking care to be quiet as she crosses the distance to the house, Nephry stops and puts a hand on Natalia's back.]

I won't pry, but please come inside if you decide you want to talk, Natalia.

[February 12th Early evening]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia lifts stricken, swollen eyes. She begins to stammer apologies as her hands go to her mouth. ]

Nephry I--...I..[the hand on her back feels like a weight to a stone body. she finds herself standing up, one hand going to clasp the forearm of her other arm as she hides her eyes behind her bangs. ]

I...--should go inside, yes.

[silversnowfall]

Please don't force yourself. ...It's all right, to be upset. Whatever the cause.

[As a figure of authority, Natalia probably hasn't heard that very often. The best Nephry can offer is a gentle smile.]

When you're ready, I'll have tea made if you'd like some.

[meritocracy]

I..already made tea, you see? [she gestures with a sniff towards the tea, her eyes overbright as she manages a bright smile to Nephry even as tears roll down her face. ]

Asch and I---had tea together, after all! It was wonderful, which is why--it's so strange that I'm being so unseemly..[a wet laugh, as her shoulders start to shake]

[silversnowfall]

Oh, Asch was here? [Seems he wasn't invited to stay for dinner. Nephry reaches over to take both of Natalia's shoulders.]

It isn't unseemly to cry, if you feel you need to do so. Please come inside.

[meritocracy]

[Natalia just continues woodenly walking inside, she's so tired. She almost wants her head to just fall into Nephry's shoulder, to scream, cry--weep.

She's a Princess, the heir to the throne of one of the two major powers of Auldrant.

Nephry is a Governor.

It's not proper.

And this woman has pains of her own. She quietly shuts the door, leaning against it as her hand goes to her eyes, bright blinking green. Tears silently roll down her face. ]

I..was truly happy...[her hands go to her heart, as a wet laugh escapes]
To be with him like that..I was..so very happy..

[February 12th Early evening]

[seleniahymn]

[Tear had just been on her way to returning from spending the day with Freyjadour when she saw Asch come from the direction of the house, watching him carefully from a distance as he passed by. Strange, he rarely came by of his own volition, that she knew of. But his business was his, it was not in her right to pry nor was she inclined to at the moment.

What was her business was finding her best friend sobbing on the steps of the front porch. Without any hesitation, without even putting any thought into it she steps quickly toward her and sits beside the princess, gently placing a hand on her shoulder while allowing her face to show the concern and worry she felt for her best friend.

She wouldn't force her to talk, or leave until Natalia was done. As always, she would remain at her side until she was ready to tell her what those tears of hers meant.]

[February 12th Early evening]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia hands slowly come away from her face, as tears drip onto her palms. She lifts wide, tear-filled eyes to Tear and she opens her mouth, a smile on her lips--maybe even a shaky hello but something goes wrong. Instead her face twists, her eyes brim, clench with an unnatural weariness, her mouth trembles.

She chokes out her best friend's name, her head falling into her shoulder. ]

I did it, Tear. The things I needed to say..--It's over.

[February 12th Early evening]

[seleniahymn]

['It's over.' There were many things that those words could mean, but given what she saw prior to arrival it wasn't hard to piece together what Natalia meant. For so long she had witnessed the pain on her best friend's face whenever they came across Asch, how her face would soften and her eyes turn to a place she could never reach while somehow still remaining strong for everyone in a way none of the others could. Somehow she had managed to do what she must have known needed to be done for so long.

And Tear could only admire her all the more for it as she stroked Natalia's hair gently, allowing her to rest on her shoulder for as long as would be needed.] What did he say...?

[February 12th Early evening]

[meritocracy]

--More like--what I said. [she sniffs, her shoulders quietly shaking.]

I was wrong. I kept confusing him with Luke..the Luke I was supposed to marry. But he wasn't..that Luke had been gone for..so long. I wasn't validating who he was--and it hurt him. Out of all the people--the one person who should have accepted him, who should have understood--and I didn't. I hurt him so badly, Tear..[she bit back a sob]

And yet I cannot let him go. This is..a chance I will never recieve again. I asked him if he..wanted to start over. And he--he said yes. And we talked--he even smiled at me.

To think that--if I had done this before--his..--[she swallows]
If I had done this before he had died--I wonder if he could have felt any sort of happiness. I should be happy--I think a part of me is but..--still to let go.

It seems you and I--have had to let go of many things on this journey, haven't we?

[February 12th Early evening]

[seleniahymn]

[Tear listens to every word carefully while continuing the soothing motions of running her hand through the princess's hair, but just as Natalia is finishing she pauses and feels her body stiffen – after all, she was not yet aware that Asch was dead, that if she were to return home it would only be a short time before Luke would inform him, after witnessing his original's death.

How much more did Natalia have to suffer on behalf of that man? Though she doubted that the princess saw it that way, and now was not the time to dwell on that either, not when Natalia herself was talking to her about moving on and taking the second chance offered to them. It was a thought that had been haunting her mind more vividly ever since they had gathered at the turn of the new year.]

We have... and here we are on yet another journey, even if it is different from what Auldrant gave us. We have been given these chances to... start over again. You don't have to dwell on the ifs, Natalia, not when Asch has already agreed. That was why you asked him, isn't it?

[while she didn't know what this particular chance would mean for Natalia, she would have to hope for the best, that Natalia would be able to hold that happiness in her hand.]

[February 12th Early evening]

[meritocracy]

[at the stiffen her eyes lift to hers, her smile tired.]
You didn't know, did you? No he--..[her voice comes out choked]
He cleared a path for us--by himself. Run through with swords..so many swords, Luke said. Alone. He was alone. [her hands quiver in her lap as she swallows, knowing tears are still coming.]

..Another journey. I wonder if enough time has passed for me to be ready for that journey. But I want--I want to see where this one leads. [she laughs weakly]
I simply want to get to know him again. That's really all I can ask of him.

[July 8th - Written]

[relinquishing]

[It had been roughly 48 hours since Luke's death. The emptiness of the situation had barely lost its sting for Guy... and he knew that he wasn't alone in the matter.

There was one person in particular that Guy had wanted to check up on since the announcement was made, though. Simply because, out of everyone, he knew Luke's death would hit her very hard... even if she didn't outwardly show it. Because, as headstrong as she was, Natalia had always shown herself to be rather stubborn and distant in situations like this. Try to keep her chin up and eyes forward, rather than cloud her surroundings with how upset she might be.

Of course, he had respected that she needed to keep her pride. But at the same time... she was a friend. And it's only after a couple days of silence had gone by that he picks up his journal to contact her.]

Natalia... Could I speak with you sometime tonight?

[written]

[meritocracy]

[ natalia had said nothing. quietly went away for a while, kept to herself. didn't even frequent house 1 much just spent time walking. she was silent and somber. if she cried, it was where no one saw.

eventually she couldn't ignore everything forever, and she glanced up at her device, taking note of the words. there's a swallow, a silent glance and then: ]

..Of course, Guy. When should I expect you?

[written]

[relinquishing]

Whenever it's convenient. I wouldn't want to intrude.

[Not to push. Just to check up on. Even if she had said no, it was still a response.]

If you don't mind, though, I can stop by in about an hour.

[written]

[meritocracy]

Alright. I'll be at House 1 by then.
[ a clear implication that she's been avoiding just about everyone. ]