004. herian's bff is worse than your bff

[dashing]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Herian & Saoirse
RECIPIENT: everyone
WHAT: party party party
WHEN: 28th Haring
WHERE: the wall of kirks
NOTES: The log is posted HERE! Bring your friends, etc. Content warning for Saoirse being fabulous.

( The voice that speaks first is soft, controlled, polite. The Herian standard, basically. She could be talking about the necessity of carefully filing paperwork, rather than a birthday party. )

Inquisition, a good many of you are familiar with Enchanter Ceallach. At her behest, ( that sounds just faintly dry, ) I would like to invite you to a celebration of her birthday. Her birthday is on the thirtieth of this month, and the party on the final eve of this year. You are all most welcome.

( :| so welcome )

And many of you are also familiar with Knight-Enchanter Amsel. ( And this voice is much more bright, almost giggling as she obviously leans in over a certain someone’s shoulder. ) Equally, at my behest, I would like to invite you to a celebration of our birthdays. Her birthday is on the second of the first month in our new year, so this party is as much for me as it is for my little sister.

( Said filled to the brim with love and sunshine.

However, gentle listener, if you felt that disgusted noises were trademarked to Nevarrans, how wrong you were. The problem is that the knightly sort are, by Herian’s standards, far too dignified to make disgusted noises, so there is just a period of intense, suffering silence, before her dignity is nevertheless compromised by: )

It’s only four days. ( Four days that she will never escape. Four days that weigh upon her very soul. ) My haggard, elderly companion also cheats at hide and seek.

( Justice. Is this the most absurd Herian has ever been in public? Probably. There’s a faintly mutinous air to it. Mutinous severity. )

My sweet, but naive, baby sister is only upset because she always found first. By everyone. Even the goats in the alienage could find her hiding spots.

( What is even happening anymore? Is this the same flower-crown weaving Saoirse that sings to birds? You can even imagine her pulling on Herian’s cheek as she speaks which is accurate because she absolutely is and with a smile.

And Herian is having to use every inch of her control not to get Saoirse in a headlock. That would be unseemly, and excessive, and yet…. so tempting. )

The celebration, ( “celebration” sounding like a torturous word to speak aloud, which possibly has something to do with Saoirse pulling at her face, even as she tries to regain her dignity, ) will be in the Hanged Man. Please do not hesitate to advise us of any questions you might have, and please remember to exercise due caution, that you are not nursing painful headaches at the Firstday Feast.

( A moment of pause and then… there she goes. She’s going to try and get Saoirse in a headlock anyway, now with the element of surprise.

And speaking of surprise that yelp, and some word muffled in that funny language they speak, is full of surprise. It might be a moment before either respond. )

Comments

[crowncitizen]

[Oh no this is adorable.]

Happy birthday to both of you! [Herian you didn't tell him it was YOUR birthday, too!] I've heard a thing or two about these hide-and-seek shenanigans.

[sulena]

Thank you, Prompto. ( she is good at forgetting important information. ) And sullied my good name in the process too, I expect. She's quite the jealous fiend over being a subpar hide-and-seeker.

[dashing]

( Something longsuffering sounding in the Starkhaven dialect; it probably translates to something along the lines of Never had the world known annoyance before you; it is meant with the utmost love but also, the utmost suffering. )

If you must resort to chastising me for my lack of skills as a child, one assumes they must be beyond reproach in all recent conduct.

[crowncitizen]

I will not confirm or deny the amount of sullying that was had. [He doesn't want to throw Herian under the bus, so to speak, even in a friendly "argument".] I mean, you guys could always play another round sometime soon as adults. Settle the score and all. [Kidding! Well, mostly.]

[sulena]

It is okay, Herian. Know that I will always accept you as you are even if you must resort to such horrible lies to protect your honor.

( said brimming over with more love and sunshine. )

That is a dangerous idea, Prompto. We were a dangerous pair in the alienage and only grew worse once we came into our magic. The fellows in Starkhaven's Circle long suffered under our games and pranks.

[dashing]

You can't lie to protect honour, that in itself would inherently undercut whatever honour someone might have possessed.

( But there is a quiet sound - could it be laughter? No, it's not. But it was an amused breath that might have suggested laughter, if one were inclined to analyse it. )

I have no recollection of these alleged pranks. ( A pause, and - ) That is what I would attempt to claim, were I lying to protect my honour. Or my dignity, as the case may be.

[crowncitizen]

[Prompto's having far less luck containing his laughter. This is just adorable to listen to, though he almost feels like he's butting in now.]

Well, hide and seek isn't about pranking people or causing havoc. It just comes down to skill in being sneaky and knowing where to hide. That can't be... that dangerous, can it?

[Sweet summer child.]

[dashing]

Thank you, Serah.

( She sounds less thrilled about it. )

The less said about them, the better. ( She said, after bringing it up first. )

[crowncitizen]

[He's not sure if Herian's just being her usual self, or if she's just not excited about her birthday. Or maybe both.]

I'll definitely be there tonight! Only thing better than celebrating one birthday is celebrating two!

[Double birthday shenanigans!]

Well you are the one who keeps mentioning it, you know.

[dashing]

( Don't bring logic into this. Please, Prompto. )

There is no need to point fingers.

( She's joking.

Or is she. )

[crowncitizen]

[He really can't tell and honest to the Six, it unnerves him a bit.]

You know, just sayin'...

[H e l p]

Uh, anyway - is there anything I can bring? Or anything I can help with?

[dashing]

( B) )

Do not trouble yourself, on either count. I have managed to secure some small decorations for the occasion.

[crowncitizen]

Great. [In more ways then one.] If you need help setting up, I can pitch in.

[tar_minyatur]

I fear I do not know Enchanter Ceallach, but my best wishes to you both. Milady Herian, you leave me with very little time to find a suitable gift!

[dashing]

You are very kind. I— no gifts are necessary, I promise you. Please do not presume that was our intention in making this announcement.

[tar_minyatur]

Ah, of course not! But we went into battle together, and I think we should celebrate at least that!

[dashing]

That we should.

( As odd though their orders has been, on one level. ) I would be glad to better make your acquaintance. Are you fully recovered from the injuries of the battle?

[tar_minyatur]

Fortunately, I am - your healers here are quite good! Not that it stopped Maglor from fretting, but I move without pain, which is nice.

[dashing]

I am relieved to hear it, though I will do my utmost next we work together to ensure Maglor has no cause for anxiety.

( Gentle, good natured humour, albeit possibly hard to trace under all her seriousness. )

[tar_minyatur]

If it's any comfort, I think Maglor's default state is anxiety - I honestly think he would find a way to worry if I did nothing but sit at home and read!

[dashing]

Papercuts are most perilous.

( She says it so seriously that it could sound legitimately sincere, save for the smile that can be heard in her voice when she continues. )

His care and concern are to his credit, but let us hope he does not wear his nerves too thin.

[tar_minyatur]

Apparently!

[ Elros bursts into bright laughter at that ]

Ah well. He used to say that if Elves went grey as mortals did, between my brother and I we would have left him with a full head of white, by the time we were grown. I suppose I should just try to be more careful, but it is not in my nature.

[dashing]

( Sometimes she can still be funny - that's a relief. Admittedly, she's allowing herself to be funnier because she's sort of masking some Major Emotional Problems, but hey. A girl can have some dysfunction and still be fabulous. She allows herself a slight smile, unseen as it may be. )

My father used to say that the true benefit of blonde hair was to hide all the grey sneaking in. ( It sounded funnier when he said it, probably. )

Do you think yourself reckless, or more... instinctive in your actions? ( There's a difference, although some would argue not, probably. )

[tar_minyatur]

[ Elros doesn't know about the Major Emotional Problems, so at least he won't call her on it? ]

Hm. I would say instinctive - I would hope I have had the recklessness all worked out by now! War doesn't tend to reward the reckless, much.

[ Unless your name is Fingon, and even then, his luck ran out eventually ]

[sulena]

Thank you kindly, sir. She is quite good at keeping things to herself, has been since we were small and certainly better than she was at hiding and seeking.

( countdown until Herian tackles her. )

[tar_minyatur]

[ Elros smiles back ]

Milady Ceallach, I presume! Your lady sister has been very kind as to take me dragonhunting, which, admitedly, is not really the best time to advertise an upcoming birthday! My best wishes to you as well - I fear I am uncertain as to what might make a suitable gift for either of you!

there must be a way to badly photoshop this face onto that icon

[dashing]

Maker preserve me.

[foxsays]

Happy birthday to you both, how many sides I've gotten to see of you lately señora Amsel!

Pickled fish is always a good hangover cure you know, the stronger the better.

[Late birthday gifts maybe???]

i'd believe it, pickled fish is amazing

[dashing]

I would pray that you banish this one from your mind. ( Very very very very very gentle humour. Hard to trace. )

Ah. Thank you, I shall be glad to advise any of find themselves overcome.

[foxsays]

Why would I do that? It's endearing to hear you sound as if you've taken off the armour. [Consider this: you sound less naked than the times she's seen you naked or most of the way there Herian.]

First thing in the morning. At the docks. That and a good swim in there, lean right over…

[dashing]

I— know not how to respond to that. ( A little stiff, from being somewhat out of her element. )

Was not our most recent discussion a reminder of the very reasons not to swim at the docks? I did not take you for a sadist.

[foxsays]

Most people laugh. [Cosima is a good thing for you.]

I love the sea and all things in it. One has to embrace all things in order to feel alive. Sometimes there has to be, what's the word, penance?

[sulena]

I have many, many more stories to tell of our childhood that certainly show a new light of our dearest Knight-Enchanter.

( oh no, although it can't be seen Saoirse wrinkles her nose and chuckles. ) I hope no one will have to resort to it but it will be good to keep in mind.

[foxsays]

If you could be persuaded to part with them, I would of course be as happy to hear as I would to repay you for that.

[Please, this is a time honoured and tested hangover cure.] Well it's that or a brisk swim in the docks, I know which one I'd choose out of those two.