video ; both courts, open

[survivra]

I don't want a locket.

[ katsa's dangling hers in front of her face, close to and giving a clear (as much as the locket's image quality is capable, anyway) image of her mismatched eyes, one an unnaturally vibrant green and the other a bright blue. she's Not Happy, if the pull of her eyebrows is any indication, and her voice is impatient. though the scene behind her isn't easy to make out, since she's holding the locket close, an astute observer might notice the twisted branches and dark green flora of la llorona. ]

I don't want any gifts. I'm not here for any kings and queens, so you can have this back—I'm not going to be yours more than I am anyone else's to do your bidding. There are enough kings to deal with already in Lienid and the Middluns. Do you imagine I won't find my own way?

[ well, all she heard was "from high king and queen" and "send a message" as she was busy trying to kick an imp in the face when she got her locket, so she thinks this is how this works. ]

Comments

video; locked.

[jaywalks]

[ oh, uh, misunderstanding this seems like. but mako recognizes the trees, and... hm. ]

They won't answer you. The monarchs, I mean.

video; locked.

[survivra]

{ katsa jumps at the voice and image that plays back at her. she's not really sure what she expected to happen in return. ]

Then what's the point of giving this if not for messages, like those things said?

video; locked.

[jaywalks]

It's still for messages though. Just not to the monarchs. I think they've only used it once in the last six months, and they never replied to anyone. Usually it's just Shardbearers talking to Shardbearers.

video; locked.

[survivra]

So it can't even reach them? [ frustrated. SERIOUSLY WHAT'S THE POINT—katsa should have done more listening but she has some royal telling off to do ] Who are you, then?

[ can she yell at mako instead ]

video; locked.

[jaywalks]

I don't think they have their own. [ though queen solais did answer korra's locket message, over the summer... don't yell at mako katsa, we're the same age and want the same thing!!! >( ] I'm Mako. Who're you?

video; locked.

[survivra]

Katsa. Of the Middluns. [ well, she supposes it makes more sense that monarchs wouldn't handle their own lines of communication directly, even though it's inconvenient for katsa's patience. so— ] Do you relay messages to their advisors, then, instead?

video;

[playmakings]

At least it's pretty, right?

[ She seems pretty no-nonsense, but Kelsi's hoping her smile and optimism will get her to relax a little bit. Maybe not abuse the poor little imps? ]

video;

[survivra]

If I cared for pretty baubles, I could have brought all I needed from Bitterblue City. [ Helda had certainly tried her best to dress Katsa up while at Bitterblue's court, especially after lamenting over the short crop of Katsa's hair. ] I'm no Lienid, with their gold.

[ SORRY KELSI DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY—Katsa doesn't like having her plans interrupted, is all. ]

video;

[playmakings]

It's okay. [ Kelsi was once far too unconcerned with fashion. She's getting a little better at being a girl, though, and completely understands tom boys. ]

It's just--well, I meant more that there's got to be a good side to everything. Even winding up here, right?

video;

[survivra]

Not if it isn't by my choice.

video;

[playmakings]

Oh, of course! I can't think of anyone who's actually happy to be here--but when you're dealt a hand, you have to sort of find the upside while you work hard to fix it, right?

[ ...Right? That's how it works in disney ]

[bullhorned]

You could sell it. Might make a few coin off it. 'specially as it's magic.

[Gendry might have done the same, except the monarchs basically threw money at him for his first boon.]

[survivra]

I've coin enough.

[ she's twisting the locket back and forth, staring at it and the video projection from all angles—there may be a dizzying view of the forest from her end. ]

I don't intend to stay long enough to need it, anyway. How is this an exchange for taking me from where I want to go?

[bullhorned]

[It's just as well. Gendry just tends to flip his locket on, then dangle on his chest. She's being greeted to a spectacular view of his bare chest. Only it's not spectacular because the locket is nearly pressed against it, so it's just a vaguely defined and poorly lit slope of something.]

Exchange don't much enter into it.

[survivra]

It rarely does. [ that's dry. ] I won't be asking for another.

[ not that she would even expect to get anything out of it, if she even wanted anything ]

[bullhorned]

What I mean is, you intending to stay don't mean nothing. There ain't no exchange. You're here. There's naught else to it.

[Basically his way of 'get used to it'.]

video

[gracedprince]

[Po nearly chokes on the wine he's drinking, wolf-Liam snuffling his nose against Po's knee to make sure he's alright. The voice on it's on is recognizable enough, Po would never forget Katsa's voice but the mention of Lienid and the Middluns is enough to confirm it.

He sets his wine down and turns to watch, making sure it's facing him correctly and he reaches, letting his fingers brush against the face of the locket. And he wishes he could see her face but wishing doesn't do much for him.]

There is no way, Wildcat. We're here to stay for as long as the war goes on.

[His rooms, where ever he is, are nice. Very nice, a princely accommodation, and he wears a cloak of the Unseelie kings Necroveil's. And, though she can't see it, he's wearing his wolf-head ring in place of his signet ring.]

Where are you?

video

[survivra]

[ Katsa's heart leaps, and she nearly drops her locket—an impressive feat to cause. It's been months since she's heard his voice, and to hear it coming from something dangled on the end of a chain, his face barely the size of the palm of her hand, is nowhere near how she imagined it. Katsa curls the locket in her hand and brings it even closer to her own face. He might not be able to see her, but she wants desperately to see him better. ]

Po.

[ There are too many questions she wants to ask, on top of everything, and she can't decide where to start first. ]

I don't care about wars that aren't my concern. [ —Perhaps she would, if she knew more, but she doesn't in that moment and the words tumble from her mouth before she can think about it. There's one thing she can ask that's easiest and more important, and she hopes the answer is what she wants to hear: ] Where are you?

video

[gracedprince]

[He still wishes he could see her, be able to hold her, but he takes what he can for now. Never did Po exactly want her drawn into this (but what a choice the rulers made, bringing Katsa of all people) yet he'd been longing to 'see' her again.

A playful grin pulls at his lips at her question and the wolf practically huffs at how she turned the question on him.]

I asked you first. [He let's that sit a moment before he gives him. It's easier for him to tell her than the other way around, right now.] I'm in my rooms in Caer Scima. The castle belonging to those claimed by the Unseelie monarchs.

video

[survivra]

[ She drops and squats close to the ground, still holding the locket close even though she looks away to unroll the map left with her—one of the few good pieces of information she received from the imps, since at least they could shove it on her one way or another, despite her attempts at redirecting her anger at actually being caught in her sleep for the first time in her life by wrestling out of their hold. (One reason she didn't make it all the way to the castle before being dropped off. Oops.) ]

I think I'm nearby. I know I'm somewhere in the north, and the edge of these woods isn't far. [ just an hour or so walk, it had to be, though it could only be her Grace telling her that. a hot flash of discomfort runs down her spine at his phrasing. so that was it—people viewed as commodities, like whatever stones supposedly (and surely absurdly) were inside them, and did not belong to their own? ] I won't stand for either of us to be claimed by anyone.

video

[gracedprince]

[He knows enough of the layout of the land from transporting Isengrim to Maupertius to know about where she is. And Liam knows the woods even better than he, for the simple fact of being able to see.]

Ah, you should be able to make it within a day then. I can send Liam out to meet you.

[His heart almost twists at her words and makes it harder for him to think about the fact that he's given his loyalty to the monarchs. That Morla has been good enough to him to deserve at least some part of his trust.]

[aliased]

They don't care what we want. Kings and queens never do anyways.

[survivra]

I imagine they find it easy, to look at their people and to see them as dogs.

[aliased]

They want us to fight their war.

[survivra]

I'll not fight. [ a scowl. ] I won't be put in a cage again, for a war that isn't mine. How can they order those who do not even belong here, to do such a thing?