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[ look,
anyway, she seems amused. ]
You have your work cut out for you. Though allow me to be selfish and request you think of me right now, and not Greed.
[ free me of lust week ]
anyway, she seems amused. ]
You have your work cut out for you. Though allow me to be selfish and request you think of me right now, and not Greed.
[ free me of lust week ]
[ free you? free ME
Medb was joking about Greed, but Vira catches her attention instantly. She smiles at Vira, looking up at her through her lashes. ]
Oh? I'll always pay more attention to you.
Medb was joking about Greed, but Vira catches her attention instantly. She smiles at Vira, looking up at her through her lashes. ]
Oh? I'll always pay more attention to you.
[ no ]
I'm flattered.
[ usually she'd be more stiff about affection, but it's easier to accept the proximity these days, thinking less of it. ]
How does one hold the attention of a monarch?
I'm flattered.
[ usually she'd be more stiff about affection, but it's easier to accept the proximity these days, thinking less of it. ]
How does one hold the attention of a monarch?
Like this.
[ Medb shifts, leaning over and pressing a kiss against Vira's lips. ]
[ Medb shifts, leaning over and pressing a kiss against Vira's lips. ]
[ There is a brief pang of guilt that comes with any indulgence here—that she is betraying Katalina somehow—but right now it's easy to get lost in the present, closing her eyes and just enjoying how soft kisses can feel.
She's blushing when she eventually breaks away, but still looks pleased, idly running a finger along Medb's cheek now that they're close. ]
Her majesty is gracious, I see.
She's blushing when she eventually breaks away, but still looks pleased, idly running a finger along Medb's cheek now that they're close. ]
Her majesty is gracious, I see.
[ There is something both very familiar and very foreign to these feelings expressed by Vira. The desire, the immediacy in which she'd bring the whole world crashing down for person she wants the most is something Medb knows, the way she looked down on others is also something she knows.
The yearning and the longing are aches that she isn't sure she knows, and it's what knocks her breath away the most. That miserable loneliness—
Is this what Vira has forgotten? ]
... Was all that a mystery to you?
[ Because Medb thinks it's all the more shame if it is. ]
The yearning and the longing are aches that she isn't sure she knows, and it's what knocks her breath away the most. That miserable loneliness—
Is this what Vira has forgotten? ]
... Was all that a mystery to you?
[ Because Medb thinks it's all the more shame if it is. ]
[ She furrows her brow faintly, her hands curled into fists before she lets out a slow, long sigh. ]
Parts of it I could not see clearly. Though those feelings are certainly mine...
[ It's all very patchwork. ]
Parts of it I could not see clearly. Though those feelings are certainly mine...
[ It's all very patchwork. ]
[ Medb reaches to gently touch the back of Vira's hand. ]
For what you could not see, I am... Is it terrible to say I am glad to have seen it? It's an invasion of your privacy, but those strong feelings of yours... they're admirable, in a way.
[ They may not be good or great or all too healthy, but Medb doesn't think they're any less wonderful. ]
You could not fault me for my ambitions, and I cannot fault you for yours.
For what you could not see, I am... Is it terrible to say I am glad to have seen it? It's an invasion of your privacy, but those strong feelings of yours... they're admirable, in a way.
[ They may not be good or great or all too healthy, but Medb doesn't think they're any less wonderful. ]
You could not fault me for my ambitions, and I cannot fault you for yours.
[ They aren't good, great, or healthy, but Vira doesn't look ashamed of them. She doesn't seem to mind that Medb gets to see.
If anything, she just regrets that she can't remember what they're for, her hand stiff and tense beneath Medb's. She accepts her feelings and mistakes, but to lose the source of all her desperate, frenetic love?
It leaves her feeling empty. Maybe that's why she's been so affected, lately. ]
That's a generous way to put it. But... thank you. I am not ashamed of who I am, even if that person is not admirable, or gentle, or kind.
[ She smiles, largely insincere, though the hesitation in how she tentatively puts her other hand atop Medb's seems more genuine. ]
And it is the same for knowing you. [ Medb is not a good person, but she does not regret meeting her. ]
If anything, she just regrets that she can't remember what they're for, her hand stiff and tense beneath Medb's. She accepts her feelings and mistakes, but to lose the source of all her desperate, frenetic love?
It leaves her feeling empty. Maybe that's why she's been so affected, lately. ]
That's a generous way to put it. But... thank you. I am not ashamed of who I am, even if that person is not admirable, or gentle, or kind.
[ She smiles, largely insincere, though the hesitation in how she tentatively puts her other hand atop Medb's seems more genuine. ]
And it is the same for knowing you. [ Medb is not a good person, but she does not regret meeting her. ]
I am not ashamed of who I am either or any of the choices I've made.
[ Her history shapes her in more ways than one. There is no escaping it when all she can be is a reflection of it. She is not static and she is not immutable, but there are some things that must always remain. ]
I am happy to know you, too. And you are admirable. From what I've come to know and see in you here.
I do hope that memory returns to you.
[ Her history shapes her in more ways than one. There is no escaping it when all she can be is a reflection of it. She is not static and she is not immutable, but there are some things that must always remain. ]
I am happy to know you, too. And you are admirable. From what I've come to know and see in you here.
I do hope that memory returns to you.
I can be quite generous.
[ Medb doesn't pull away, looking at Vira through half-lidded eyes. The smile on her lips is playful. ]
I do not mind being a bit more.
[ Medb doesn't pull away, looking at Vira through half-lidded eyes. The smile on her lips is playful. ]
I do not mind being a bit more.
[ She laughs softly—she knows that Medb is not sweet, per se. But she is daring and likeable, and in the moment, that's more than enough. She brushes back Medb's hair, using the gesture as an excuse to bring her in for another kiss. ]
Then please—indulge me.
Then please—indulge me.
[ If Vira asks, who is Medb to refuse? She's more than happy to oblige. After all, who knows indulging more than Medb?
She scoots closer, her hand moving to Vira's nape as she kisses her again. ]
She scoots closer, her hand moving to Vira's nape as she kisses her again. ]
[ Vira is sitting in the gardens, playing an unfamiliar harp, its tune quiet as she plucks the strings. She pauses briefly when she sees Medb, though, her voice worn out. ]
Hello, your majesty.
Hello, your majesty.
[ Medb takes a seat next to her. ]
Vira. That's beautiful. How are you feeling?
[ Not too great, she assumes, but she wants to hear what Vira's willing to say. ]
Vira. That's beautiful. How are you feeling?
[ Not too great, she assumes, but she wants to hear what Vira's willing to say. ]
I'm all right—just taking a moment to collect myself. [ she looks distant, if anything. ] And you? Today was quite stressful for everyone.
You seem quite worn.
[ It's not rude? It's chiding, a little concerned. ]
A queen is always fine.
[ It's not rude? It's chiding, a little concerned. ]
A queen is always fine.
[ she doesn't confirm or deny it, even if the truth is obvious, looking rueful. ]
You know—I had learned recently that I had become something of a monarch, because Luminiera had willfully decided to become my knight.
[ a queen with just one subject, but one that has become very crucial to her. ]
But I do not have your fortitude, I think.
You know—I had learned recently that I had become something of a monarch, because Luminiera had willfully decided to become my knight.
[ a queen with just one subject, but one that has become very crucial to her. ]
But I do not have your fortitude, I think.
[ She hums softly, and if Vira allows it, Medb will place one of her hands over one of Vira's. ]
I have the benefit... or the opportunity of having memories of multiple lives. [ Multiple summonings. ] It gives me a different kind of perspective at times.
[ Since she's no longer human. ]
You already know I'm not infallible or untouchable. Sometimes, all you need is one knight to be able to stand tall again, but I think you have more than that here.
I have the benefit... or the opportunity of having memories of multiple lives. [ Multiple summonings. ] It gives me a different kind of perspective at times.
[ Since she's no longer human. ]
You already know I'm not infallible or untouchable. Sometimes, all you need is one knight to be able to stand tall again, but I think you have more than that here.
[ she certainly won't reject her, though her lashes flutter briefly in surprise. ]
Do I...?
[ ... ]
I was not kind during trial. I like Misa—and I was still harsh to her. Condemned her.
Even so, there are people who show me kindness. You are all truly so strange.
Do I...?
[ ... ]
I was not kind during trial. I like Misa—and I was still harsh to her. Condemned her.
Even so, there are people who show me kindness. You are all truly so strange.
Does liking someone mean you cannot be harsh? Does caring for someone mean you cannot do harm? Does being willing to say words others will not mean you don't deserve kindness?
[ She shifts closer to Vira and grabs her one hand with both of hers in a gentle hold. ]
You stood for what you believed. There isn't anything wrong with that. I am kind because I like you, Vira. Is that so strange?
[ She shifts closer to Vira and grabs her one hand with both of hers in a gentle hold. ]
You stood for what you believed. There isn't anything wrong with that. I am kind because I like you, Vira. Is that so strange?
[ she doesn't really have an answer for any of her questions except the last one. ]
...A little strange, yes.
[ she doesn't try to tear away or anything, though. she doesn't hate this; she's just tired. drained. she didn't enjoy what she did today. ]
Considering the circumstances we all arrived in, I expected people to be more reserved. I myself haven't made much, if any effort to get close to you all.
But even then, even though we have no way of knowing for certain who killed who or why, week by week you are gracious to me.
...A little strange, yes.
[ she doesn't try to tear away or anything, though. she doesn't hate this; she's just tired. drained. she didn't enjoy what she did today. ]
Considering the circumstances we all arrived in, I expected people to be more reserved. I myself haven't made much, if any effort to get close to you all.
But even then, even though we have no way of knowing for certain who killed who or why, week by week you are gracious to me.
If I said I trusted everyone, that would be a lie, but I don't want to live in fear and paranoia. If I like someone, I like someone.
[ Liking someone doesn't always have to come with trust, but it'd be nice. It would be really nice. ]
You know I'm not a good person. I don't pretend to be one. I can be good to people, but I am not good, and the people I like do not have to always do good things either.
[ It's come up in enough of their conversations that she doesn't think it bears repeating, but she thinks it doesn't hurt to make the point. ]
I'm selfish, Vira.
[ Liking someone doesn't always have to come with trust, but it'd be nice. It would be really nice. ]
You know I'm not a good person. I don't pretend to be one. I can be good to people, but I am not good, and the people I like do not have to always do good things either.
[ It's come up in enough of their conversations that she doesn't think it bears repeating, but she thinks it doesn't hurt to make the point. ]
I'm selfish, Vira.
[ she likes that there aren't pretenses with medb. they've already shared enough with each other that she knows they're both aware of the other's selfishness, and yet they can still share this time together as... friends.
after a moment she manages a small laugh, gently squeezing medb's hand back. ]
Selfish enough to still want for my company? [ even though misa will certainly die. medb is truly too good to her. ] Despite my moping, I appreciate it, Medb.
after a moment she manages a small laugh, gently squeezing medb's hand back. ]
Selfish enough to still want for my company? [ even though misa will certainly die. medb is truly too good to her. ] Despite my moping, I appreciate it, Medb.
I am very, very selfish.
[ Medb is someone who will choose who she likes and what she likes over things like what society perceives as good or bad. They're both similar in that way, she thinks, but Medb knows there are differences between them still, and isn't that fine? ]
I'm always around to be appreciated. [ That is 10% a joke, probably. ] But even if it's your sin, try not to despair too much, okay? I like you as you are.
[ Medb is someone who will choose who she likes and what she likes over things like what society perceives as good or bad. They're both similar in that way, she thinks, but Medb knows there are differences between them still, and isn't that fine? ]
I'm always around to be appreciated. [ That is 10% a joke, probably. ] But even if it's your sin, try not to despair too much, okay? I like you as you are.
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