[Ugh, you're insufferable!! Why does she like you, anyway. Blanche just promptly sticks her nose into the air with a bit of an exaggerated 'hmph!' and takes another sip of pure liquid suffering.]
Yes, yes, I suppose so.
[But don't worry, she's not put out at all. It'd be obvious if she was, but right now, this bit of levity is nice. And that laugh is nice too.]
Why yes, I would deeply appreciate that. I want tea that's as bitter and decrepit as my soul, Alaric. By royal decree; anything less, and you'll be the one drinking it.
[Alaric rests a hand on his chest and bows as low as he can at that.]
Your wish is my command as always, Your Majesty. I shall personally ensure that any and all disgustingly sweet tea is disposed of so you need not trouble yourself with such things.
[Of course, he's smirking like an asshole when he rises and raises his cup in a toast.]
So let me know when you're done with yours and I'll finish it off.
[...She takes it all back, you're the best, Alaric. Blanche has to use her free hand to hide the strange mirth that overcomes her. Is that a chuckle?? From the stone-faced Queen??? Perish the thought!!]
Excellent. I knew I could count on you for such important tasks, Sir Alaric.
[Blanche will gladly raise her glass in a toast as well.]
Gladly, however. You have my word.
[Blanche is able to finish her tea quickly enough, at least. It's just like eating one's vegetables as a child; you hold your breath, stuff it all down, and pretend it doesn't taste like boiled garbage!! Easy as ever, 10/10. Blanche does signal that she's done, however, putting her glass back on the little plate.]
...I am glad that you do seem to be doing much better than you were earlier.
[Hopefully you didn't think you were going to avoid feeling forever, Alaric, but...it's a light brooch of the subject. If he has anything on his mind, she'll hear it.]
[That gets another bow from where he's sitting, but this one is an overly-flourished one as opposed to anything pretending to be formal. Entertaining the queen is not part of his job, but he's one of the few who can.
But naturally, she does shift the topic back around to something less-than-pleasant. Alaric doesn't bother trying to fight it - he knows better. If he resists, Blanche will decide it's important and that they must discuss it, and that would just make things even worse.]
I am, yes. I needed some time and space to clear my head.
[...and also some murder??]
Incidentally, the bandits had a camp not too far outside the village; it's been taken care of. I didn't see any signs of any others or other possible encampments, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
[It's a report, partially because she needs to know where he was and what he was doing, and partially because Alaric doesn't really know what else to say.]
[...He really doesn't know what else to say, does he?
Blanche isn't exactly great at this. Dealing with her own feelings tends to be an exercise in locking them tightly away in her mind like a fine aged wine even on a good day. And on bad days like these, it leaks through and tints her demeanor. This isn't something she knows how to deal with herself; how can she possibly help her friend?
It isn't going to stop Blanche, but...her usual approach won't work for this, she's sure. She doesn't want to upset him.]
Excellent work. Taking care of even one encampment will do wonders for giving this village some peace of mind tonight. And those miscreants deserved everything that they got.
[...So she's not judging the murder, basically, it's bandits after all??? Their deaths will keep the townspeople safe. It's Totally Fine.]
...Today has been rather disorienting, however. You are not alone in such a feeling, you know.
[Maybe they can start there? Blanche is trying to gently needle a bit (...which she should be doing with his uniform too, now that she thinks of it--) but this is...new territory that she's unfortunately woefully inexperienced in.]
[Alaric nods at the first part, but... well, of course he's not going to get away with just that. Blanche continues and Alaric's gaze darts. He rests his elbow on the arm of the chair and then his chin on his hand, looking out the window.]
It's not something that should be happening, and I don't know how it's possible. I don't like it.
[That's putting it very simply, but that is what it comes down to.]
It's not... That's not how I do things. I plan and calculate and consider - and when I mess up, those mistakes are my own. It's... difficult, to feel like I've lost control over making my own decisions, because these visions or whatever are showing me that there isn't a decision to be made.
[.....isn't that getting hung up on the wrong thing entirely?? Alaric groans.]
[Blanche stays patient; her gaze follows his out the window, simply watching everything. In a way, it'll probably help because she's not staring directly at him. That's the hope, at the very least.]
Neither do I. None of this makes even the slightest bit of sense. It's incredibly disorienting, even if such things seem to be trying to keep us alive.
[...She's not gonna comment on the lack of agency--she knows what Alaric means at the very least, even if at the very least to her, it seems almost...strangely comforting. To know what will happen ahead of time and plan accordingly. But she can understand where it would upset him.]
...I understand what you mean, however. It feels like something is being taken from you. [...Blanche's gaze goes to the floor for a moment, considering, but--] ...What I don't like is that this all feels...pre-determined. It almost feels as if...
[Blanche pauses and considers her words, before shaking her head. No, there's no way it's actually happened before. That's insane, isn't it?]
...No, I must be losing my head. Whatever this is, I do not like it.
[He considers it for a moment but then shakes his head.]
I know it isn't a bad thing. If it keeps you safe, it can never be a bad thing. But it's... frustrating, I suppose.
[There isn't really a way to explain how much he values his own agency and his own choices, or how proud he is of how far he's made it on his own power. If he'd always been able to predict the future like this it would have made things infinitely easier - but that takes away from the struggles that got them to this point. Will it always be like this going forward? Will they always know what not to do?
Another groan and Alaric slumps back in the chair.]
No sense putting too much thought into it right now, I suppose. We still need to figure out what caused that storm. There's more to worry about here than this.
[And as little as he likes it, it is useful to them.]
[Alaric is right, and honestly, Blanche is content to drop the subject at that. The last thing she wants to do is frustrate Alaric; they need to keep a clear head for whatever lies ahead of them.]
We do, yes. If we can find out what caused it, we can destroy it. And from there...perhaps we'll be able to fix the rest of this mess, and get the missing people back where they belong. In the homes of their loved ones, and away from whatever has taken them.
[It's firm. Determined in a way that Blanche knows they both need, right about now. Perhaps it was foolish of her to focus on this; everything else must have just been a horrible nightmare. These visions, obtrusive as they are, could prove the key to surviving.]
...Before I forget, however, give me your uniform. It looks silly right about now.
[They can drop the subject for now, at least, but give it here mister!!]
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no subject
Yes, yes, I suppose so.
[But don't worry, she's not put out at all. It'd be obvious if she was, but right now, this bit of levity is nice. And that laugh is nice too.]
Why yes, I would deeply appreciate that. I want tea that's as bitter and decrepit as my soul, Alaric. By royal decree; anything less, and you'll be the one drinking it.
[oh my god]
no subject
Your wish is my command as always, Your Majesty. I shall personally ensure that any and all disgustingly sweet tea is disposed of so you need not trouble yourself with such things.
[Of course, he's smirking like an asshole when he rises and raises his cup in a toast.]
So let me know when you're done with yours and I'll finish it off.
no subject
Excellent. I knew I could count on you for such important tasks, Sir Alaric.
[Blanche will gladly raise her glass in a toast as well.]
Gladly, however. You have my word.
[Blanche is able to finish her tea quickly enough, at least. It's just like eating one's vegetables as a child; you hold your breath, stuff it all down, and pretend it doesn't taste like boiled garbage!! Easy as ever, 10/10. Blanche does signal that she's done, however, putting her glass back on the little plate.]
...I am glad that you do seem to be doing much better than you were earlier.
[Hopefully you didn't think you were going to avoid feeling forever, Alaric, but...it's a light brooch of the subject. If he has anything on his mind, she'll hear it.]
no subject
But naturally, she does shift the topic back around to something less-than-pleasant. Alaric doesn't bother trying to fight it - he knows better. If he resists, Blanche will decide it's important and that they must discuss it, and that would just make things even worse.]
I am, yes. I needed some time and space to clear my head.
[...and also some murder??]
Incidentally, the bandits had a camp not too far outside the village; it's been taken care of. I didn't see any signs of any others or other possible encampments, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.
[It's a report, partially because she needs to know where he was and what he was doing, and partially because Alaric doesn't really know what else to say.]
no subject
Blanche isn't exactly great at this. Dealing with her own feelings tends to be an exercise in locking them tightly away in her mind like a fine aged wine even on a good day. And on bad days like these, it leaks through and tints her demeanor. This isn't something she knows how to deal with herself; how can she possibly help her friend?
It isn't going to stop Blanche, but...her usual approach won't work for this, she's sure. She doesn't want to upset him.]
Excellent work. Taking care of even one encampment will do wonders for giving this village some peace of mind tonight. And those miscreants deserved everything that they got.
[...So she's not judging the murder, basically, it's bandits after all??? Their deaths will keep the townspeople safe. It's Totally Fine.]
...Today has been rather disorienting, however. You are not alone in such a feeling, you know.
[Maybe they can start there? Blanche is trying to gently needle a bit (...which she should be doing with his uniform too, now that she thinks of it--) but this is...new territory that she's unfortunately woefully inexperienced in.]
no subject
It's not something that should be happening, and I don't know how it's possible. I don't like it.
[That's putting it very simply, but that is what it comes down to.]
It's not... That's not how I do things. I plan and calculate and consider - and when I mess up, those mistakes are my own. It's... difficult, to feel like I've lost control over making my own decisions, because these visions or whatever are showing me that there isn't a decision to be made.
[.....isn't that getting hung up on the wrong thing entirely?? Alaric groans.]
I don't know how to explain it. I don't like it.
no subject
Neither do I. None of this makes even the slightest bit of sense. It's incredibly disorienting, even if such things seem to be trying to keep us alive.
[...She's not gonna comment on the lack of agency--she knows what Alaric means at the very least, even if at the very least to her, it seems almost...strangely comforting. To know what will happen ahead of time and plan accordingly. But she can understand where it would upset him.]
...I understand what you mean, however. It feels like something is being taken from you. [...Blanche's gaze goes to the floor for a moment, considering, but--] ...What I don't like is that this all feels...pre-determined. It almost feels as if...
[Blanche pauses and considers her words, before shaking her head. No, there's no way it's actually happened before. That's insane, isn't it?]
...No, I must be losing my head. Whatever this is, I do not like it.
no subject
[He considers it for a moment but then shakes his head.]
I know it isn't a bad thing. If it keeps you safe, it can never be a bad thing. But it's... frustrating, I suppose.
[There isn't really a way to explain how much he values his own agency and his own choices, or how proud he is of how far he's made it on his own power. If he'd always been able to predict the future like this it would have made things infinitely easier - but that takes away from the struggles that got them to this point. Will it always be like this going forward? Will they always know what not to do?
Another groan and Alaric slumps back in the chair.]
No sense putting too much thought into it right now, I suppose. We still need to figure out what caused that storm. There's more to worry about here than this.
[And as little as he likes it, it is useful to them.]
no subject
We do, yes. If we can find out what caused it, we can destroy it. And from there...perhaps we'll be able to fix the rest of this mess, and get the missing people back where they belong. In the homes of their loved ones, and away from whatever has taken them.
[It's firm. Determined in a way that Blanche knows they both need, right about now. Perhaps it was foolish of her to focus on this; everything else must have just been a horrible nightmare. These visions, obtrusive as they are, could prove the key to surviving.]
...Before I forget, however, give me your uniform. It looks silly right about now.
[They can drop the subject for now, at least, but give it here mister!!]
no subject
[Trying to figure out what's causing these visions is just going to distract them from what really matters.
That gets a scoff from him, but he's quick to remove the uniform jacket and pass it over.]
Don't remind me. That's almost more embarrassing than getting hurt in the first place.
[.........alaric's priorities are definitely in order...]