eachdraidh | 3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

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3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

[After the madness of the dogs, Ryan's mostly taken to spending time holed up in his room in the castle with Kelsi and her specialty-made tea, readjusting to make things more normal again.

Of course then he wakes up to a message from her.

"❤To Mr. Fred Astaire❤
I got asked to go on a quest!!!!!
It's alright, Sif is with me. We're going to deal with a manticore. I don't know what that is but I brought a few books of me along the way.
See you when I get back!

PS. I took your hat so I won't feel so lonely. Sorry!"

There were several things wrong with the equation:

1.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest.
2.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest without him.
3.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest without him and with his hat.

Then there was also the other question…who the hell is Sif?

Fine. Whatever. He can deal with being apart for a few days. Anyway he had his own business to go about. He needs to get back to his training and the longer he puts off the advice from Queen Solais, the worse off he'll be.

When the video on his locket clicks on anyone watching will notice that Ryan's sitting on a cliff in the sunken ruins. He's busy watching a small group of mermaids swimming below him and the bit of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the walls are bouncing off of his hair now that it's not sheltered by one of his hats. He's humming a song under his breath for a few moments as he continues to watch, only mildly aware he's even humming that particular song to set the mood. Maybe he was more homesick now than he initially thought. Whatever. He can't do anything about that now, he has other goals to reach.

Truth be told, he's kind of wondering if he should ask at all considering everything else that's going on right now. Yeah. He's aware of the things happening at Redgate. He's heard the broadcasts from other people, but…

…but if he doesn't ask now, how the hell is he supposed to really help in the future?]

Weird question. If you were a mermaid, what would be the most flattering thing a person could tell you?

[A beat.]

Scientific purposes only, I swear.

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I'm sure there'll be other foes that we need tae join together tae fight. Neither th' Seelie nor Unseelie royalty will appreciate another power I imagine.

[From her understanding of how things usually worked anyway. Then it'd be right back to marching on each other. With moving in with Ariadne, Merida hoped to be away from being called on to fight her friends. His question makes her shake her head.]

We had two sunrises. 'Twas afternoon of th' first when I arrived.

Well, the ability to make my own lockets, for one. And a house. Those aren't the sort of things you just give people, not in my experience.

[ Who just gives away houses? She shakes her head. At least she's protected her home from anyone who doesn't know it's location; that might keep her safe from anyone that might go looking. Either way, they're gifts she hadn't ever imagined being given. ]

I think so, at least for the most part. They all have their own motivations, their own plans... But I haven't found any reason not to trust them.

I figured there'd have to be otherwise you'd go crazy. Please don't go crazy.

[Even though it's obvious there's a bit of wear and tear on Jack now which is…sad? It's sad, even if Ryan shouldn't think it's sad. He wouldn't wish immortality on anybody though.] I'm not that interested in history, personally. I'd rather focus on the present and the future you know? I mean I get it, I get that we need to kinda know who we were to figure out who we're going to be but people change all the time. Besides I spent twelve years in school learning pieces of history. No thanks.

You did! You did, I know. I guess it's just…[Pff.] Have you ever had people not take you seriously? It bothers me. Sometimes people take you more seriously if you're an adult than if you're a kid.

Kinda makes me wonder if they're testing us, or if they just really don't have a lot of control of what comes in and out of the world.

[That's not a lot of time at all…he actually looks a little worried about that even though it's not his problem.]

So half a day. That's cutting it close but…as long as you remember what it is you have to do when you get back it'll be okay. [A pause.] What about if she comes here?

That's…impressive. […yeeeeeah, yeah, it's pretty clear by the look on his face that the same question's crossing his mind. Who does just give away houses? He has so many questions for her. He wants to know what kind of lockets, why they were made, how they were made, maybe about this house and how it worked out for her but…he's pretty sure that's pushing it. She has zero reason to give him those answers and though he looks as though he's going to ask at least six of those questions, he changes his mind.]

I'm not really saying I don't trust them, but I guess it's just that I don't know enough about them to really believe this isn't part of some much bigger agenda that we won't know about until it's too late. [Or, perhaps, he's a tiny bit paranoid.

And then something occurs to him.]

…Hermione, right? I've seen you broadcasted on the lockets before. How long have you been here?

I'm not too sure myself. They have th' power tae bring us friends [she lets her hand travel to pat Angus' neck] and grant us boons, I would have thought they'd be all seein'.

[Merida opens her mouth at his question, looking like she's about to say something, then shakes her head.]

I'm not sure if I want her here. She'd be over there, on th' Seelie side of things. I wouldn't want tae fight my mam even less than I'd want tae fight her under th' influence of th' bear's instincts.

In that case? Kinda makes this whole thing a little sketchier. [Shadows. Demon dogs. Who knows what else will occur in the next few months?

Something else occurs to him though. The moment Merida speaks of her mother being on the opposite side, there's a weird feeling washing over him.

If his twin showed up…

…nah. They're twins. That's totally different, they have to be on the same side.]

I don't blame you. I mean I was lucky and my best friend from home showed up and she's Seelie, too. I think everybody I know would be. [Try to sound a little more convincing, Ryan.]

Hard to believe you're Unseelie though.

[ a shrug. ] Maybe that's just something you're going to have to expect or get used to happening from now on. It's up to the two of you.

[ she wrinkles her nose at him ]

Don't ask me. They might be finding your behavior wholly unnatural and unappealing. Imagine you're talking to Kelsi?

Maybe. I just didn't think I'd have to. [But Katsa's right.] You make this whole thing look so easy. I don't get it.

[But then there's the blankest of blank stares…and he finally settles on a very awkward sort of grin, clearly amused and confused about something.]

I doubt it. Most people like me, but what good would it do to pretend they're Kelsi? That might make it worse.

[ she almost smiles ] It's simple, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

And I don't know what mermaids would like or not. Pretend they're someone. Go the other way and pretend they're your enemy and get a practical lesson out of it.

Yeah. Yeah, I guess I could do that, too. And if that doesn't work then I'll find a new teacher. [He tilts his head thoughtfully, unsure if he should follow the path of asking how to be less clingy, or follow the path of "okay in some cases the enemy is someone I still like so."

Instead--]

…uh. Katsa? [Considering the things Kelsi's told him about Katsa, this conversation may get kinda weird.] You know Kelsi and I are just friends right?

[ ... oh boy. ]

I didn't imagine you wouldn't be friends, considering...

[ give her a minute

give

her

a ]

.....Aren't the two of you lovers?

[…well. Truthfully, he should have expected this and he might be a little mad at Kelsi still for going and pulling a Sharpay on him by ditching him, but he can still do a little investigative work.

However he can't stop himself from just giving her a mildly perplexed look.]

No. Nooo, no no. I mean don't get me wrong, Kelsi's the love of my life and I took her to our senior prom and I hang out in her bedroom a lot and everything, but she's…definitely not what I'm looking for lover-wise.

[...and suddenly Ryan's starting to question the nature of his relationship with Kelsi and what other people might assume. Huh. He can't really blame her for assuming so though; this isn't East where people knew the pair of them quite well. On the other hand, at least Katsa's apparently clueless of Kelsi's girl-crush on her. Might need to talk to her about that.]

Sorry if we totally misled you.

Well, thank ye for sayin' so. I'd trust my Seelie allies tae look after her if she ever came.

[Not like her mum couldn't take care of herself, considering the few tips she'd given her on archery before. She's gotten a few comments like that. Honestly, she could see it herself when she reflected back on her actions before arriving, though maybe not in the long run. She was going to be queen one day, unless she chose to be a cruel one, which was more likely not to happen.]

My dad, on th' other hand. He's someone I wouldn't mind right now.

How do you not—

[ katsa groans and drops her head to her knee so she's no longer looking into her locket. THIS IS GETTING ABSURD WHY CAN SHE NEVER TELL WHAT ANYONE IS ACTUALLY FEELING ABOUT ANYONE ]

Is this something you usually have to clarify?

[Poor Katsa. He's still watching her and he's realizing just how many worlds out there really, really don't ever have to deal with trivial bullshit.]

Sometimes, but the benefit of our world is that most people know my sister and I share several pairs of jeans and spend more time than normal dedicated to musical theatre. [He rolls his eyes skywards. Those are very shitty qualifiers, but he's heard enough rumors about himself to pull out the most vague, basic ones.] Kelsi's…Kelsi. She's sweet and adorable and she'd be a great girlfriend for anybody but I wouldn't appreciate her the way she deserves.

If it helps I don't think you're the only one to think that about us. [He has a suspicion that Lancelot thinks the same thing, too.]

See that's where it helps to have friends in both places. Kinda wish the higher-ups let us mingle together more often for that reason, even if we're…you know. ["Supposed to kill each other?"

But it's true. It's true that Ryan would really just prefer everybody get along and if that won't work, it helps having friends in places just in case things get out of hand. He'd found unlikely allies before (thanks to Troy and Gabriella.) Who's to say he wouldn't find them again?]

What's your dad like anyway? I've never met a king before either.

It's probably not in their best interest tae. Samhain an' Yule were times when tribes would stop warrin' in my homeland as well, out of respect for th' dead an' th' season.

[Weather also played a factor in the fights stopping around Yule, even with the joining of the clans. The question makes her smile, happy to change the subject.]

He's a big man with a big heart. [Not even joking.] When invaders threatened us from th' sea, he got th' lords tae see eye to eye an' defended our kingdoms, drivin' them from our lands. He saved Lord MacGuffin's life stoppin' an arrow as he ran tae Lord Dingwall's aide. He's th' one who taught me everythin' I know about archery an' sword fightin'.

[Sweet baby Lugh she could do with a hug from her dad right now.]

He lets me be who I am, not who mam wants me tae be.

[ she doesn't understand what he means by jeans and musical theatre either so she's just... going to.... ignore it....... and lift her head and roll her eyes ]

At least that's more self-awareness than I suppose most people could ask for. [ including herself. whoops, still embarrassing. katsa chews on her lower lip before deciding to ask her next question. ]

If she's the love of your life, why isn't she what you're looking for in a lover? You've never planned to marry her?

[ not that katsa cares whether anyone marries anyone, but she's just downright curious, now ]

You'd be amazed how self-aware I can be. [And also how modest, apparently. And self-centered. And oblivious. Ryan is sometimes his own problem.

The question's hard to answer, really, and he just sort of shrugs in return.]

…maybe if we can't find anybody to be with we'll end up marrying each other, but no. I've never planned on it. She's kinda like Mary Poppins. Wait you won't know who that is… Um. There's a story where I'm from about this British nanny who's basically magical but the tagline's always "Mary Poppins: practically perfect in every way." That's Kelsi. She doesn't see it most of the time but she's literally the best person somebody could be with and…the problem is that there's one giant flaw with Kelsi that I can't get past. That's why we're not dating.

...You know there's no need for either of you to marry anyone.

[ it's not her business to ask it's not her business to ask it's not her business to ]

What flaw?

What about our best interests though? Aren't we the ones doing everything for them? [It's no use complaining, and he knows it. The fact that Merida's referring to the holidays by their old name stands out to him a little bit but at least she gets what he's talking about.] But…you're probably right.

[Let's talk about Fergus, shall we? It's obvious just from listening to her that Merida loves her father with all of her heart and that the king is a brave and courageous man. Isn't that how a king should be?

And then there's the fact that the man taught Merida everything she knows. His interests pique a bit at "sword fighting" but he's quiet until she's finished.]

…your dad sounds awesome. Like everything you'd expect a king to be, you know? And it's cool. I mean that he lets you be who you are and he doesn't try to change you. [He's seen enough of that from his few observations of Coach Bolton to Troy, not to mention the few little comments here and there from his own father. But mostly thinking of Coach Bolton here.] Hopefully your mom comes around and follows him, too.

No, of course not. I'd just rather not end up alone for the rest of my life, you know?

[…thus…the root of the problem. He's quiet again before he shrugs, attempting to make this as casual as possible.]

She's a girl. Kinda can't really change that about her.

Aye, well, Queens in war rarely hold their subject's best interests at heart.

[Her mother had taught her some tactician knowledge as part of her training, that it was the Queen's duty to make decisions and fortify the household while their clansmen and husbands went to war, how to prepare to defend the keep. She had no doubt that the two High-Queens held their subjects in the palms of their hands and knew this. Morla's march on the Cothromach had her thinking as such.

Merida can't help grinning a bit at Ryan's assumptions of her father from her description, nodding.]

He is. Whoever I take on as my husband - if I eventually marry - will have a lot tae live up tae. [She pauses at he last part, inclining her head.] Aye, well, we'll see whether or not th' tapestry is th' answer.

[Otherwise...well, she wasn't sure what else she could do.]

Oh. No, I suppose there's nothing either of you can do about that.

[ she leans back. that answers most of the confusion. ]

Unmarried doesn't have to mean alone, either. I won't ever marry.

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3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

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