OPEN MINGLE: September 25-30

[imsorey]

[Although the month is drawing to a close, there's still plenty to do--such as clearing out the last few rabites, working on constructing portions of the new and improved base, sharing various information gleaned from the month's efforts, and make sure to have some downtime in between all of that. Getting a sun tan before fall fully sets in is important too!]

Comments

[sparrowfeather]

C'mon, don't knock it till you try it. The Alisha I know is a lot more open-minded!

[ GIVE IN TO PEER PRESSURE ]

[aspearing]

Maybe a little wouldn't hurt.

[ She did promise to do this and all. But, she's not giving into peer pressure, okay... ]

[sparrowfeather]

Don't look so stressed out.

[ rose falters, reaching over to rest a hand on the small of her back, speaking again in a more reassuring tone. ]

Seriously. No harm done. You promised me you'd take a night off, right? So no frowning!

[aspearing]

[ Leans against that after a moment, offering a smile in Roses's direction. ]

You're right. This is why you suggested all of this, isn't it?

[sparrowfeather]

I'll be totally honest here. At first, I just thought seeing you and Sorey's first time drinking would be hilarious. That was it. But...

[ rose pauses, a rare, thoughtful expression replacing her grin. her hand doesn't leave alisha's back, and instead she scoots closer, sliding it up in a gesture that's something close to soothing. ]

I dunno, I just didn't like seeing you going all workaholic like that. You're always doing so much for everyone, always smiling, so I just thought-- I guess I wanted to see a different kind of smiling Alisha, a smile when you were having fun. Hell, maybe even a laugh! Everyone needs a break once in awhile.

[ oh no. oh no. rose doesn't usually get this sentimental-- it's the alcohol, isn't it. the only reasonable thing to do after embarrassing herself is drink more, obviously. ]

A-Anyway! Yeah, it is.

[aspearing]

[ Alisha sends Rose a rather stern look when she mentions the first part, but it softens when Rose starts mentioning the other bits of it. That was... rather sweet of Rose, actually. ]

... I'm used to doing what I can for others, that's all. Seeing others safe and happy - that's all I've ever truly wanted, back at home. That's held true here, as well.

Thank you, Rose. For looking out for me, in the end.

[sparrowfeather]

... You're way too pure-hearted, princess. It's not a bad thing, but you can stand to be just a little more selfish sometimes, got it? I've always got your back. It's decided! As long as we're here together, we're a team. Rose and Alisha can take anything on!

[ she's... still drinking in between sentences, just because alisha is so pretty and sweet and her smile is so genuine and her cheeks are so pleasantly flushed and crap. ]

You don't need to thank me for making my own choices. To be honest, I've never been the biggest fan of royalty, and by that, I mean-- this system is corrupt. Messed up. Too many people abuse their power for nothing but their own gain, no matter how much it costs the civilians relying on them. But I realized there's an exception to all that, and that exception is you.

[aspearing]

[ She'll take her own sips while Rose is speaking. Already, she can feel her face growing a little more heated. This is... way stronger than anything se's drank before. She makes a face at how much alcohol she can actually taste, but she decides to try to never mind the taste.

She finds herself leaning against Rose, sides and shoulders touching at this point. ]

... It's true that there are many people who have ulterior motives, but... It isn't just me who wants the best for the people in Hyland, either.

[sparrowfeather]

[ rose finds herself casually draping an arm around alisha's small, delicate shoulders, just because, well... just because she can. ]

Maybe not, but you're the most hardworking, aren't you? I know you're too humble to admit it, so I will.

I wasn't sure what to think of you, at first. It didn't seem possible that a princess could be so genuine about throwing herself into working for the good of her country, even when it isn't always appreciated. You're different, you know that?

... And we don't have much in common, do we.

[ sorey told her otherwise, but rose is still skeptical about that. alisha doesn't know what those differences are-- besides the obvious personality traits. rose still doesn't know if she can tell her. not yet, anyway.

she just wants to enjoy this. enjoy getting to know alisha when she might never have had a reason to. and something about her makes rose want to stay by her side, and make sure that pure heart of hers doesn't get her into trouble. almost like sorey, in a way, but it's... not quite the same. ]

[aspearing]

I'm not entirely doubting what you're saying, but... How do you know that?

[ Rose would have to see her actually working more often than she had. So far, she's mostly just been a merchant coming and going from Ladylake, hasn't she? ]

Still, I appreciate it. It's good to know that I've made such a good impression. Though, you're working hard yourself, aren't you?

[ And... ]

... While we may have our differences, I believe that we do have some things in common. Enough to get along like this, don't we?

[sparrowfeather]

[ crap. she slipped up. ]

Between traveling a lot and hearing by word of mouth long after leaving Ladylake and then coming back to Hyland? We've traveled all over. People talk. Plus I've heard stories from Sorey as a bonus, of course! It's not like I'm oblivious to what's going on in the world, you know. We did meet, didn't we? Just once, but regardless...

[ she thinks she managed that one okay, and-- it's not entirely a lie. ]

I guess I am, yeah! Being a squire is hard work, but I've promised to stick with Sorey until the very end. I'll never go back on that promise. A promise is a promise, and... I've gotta see this journey through.

[ truly. rose is serious about that. ]

... Mm. I guess we do!

[aspearing]

I see. I didn't know that I had such a widely known reputation. [ It makes her feel a little happy to know that. It's nothing she needed to motivate her to work as hard as she does for others, but... all the same. ]

... And I didn't know that you believed in me so much. [ She leans her head against Roses's shoulder, closing her eyes at the feel of that newly-found warmth. ]

But, I'm glad, Rose. Though, I admit that I've always found you amazing, as well.

god this is so late and i didn't mean to abandon it but feel free to do w/e (handwave or not)

[sparrowfeather]

[ rose blinks down at her, heart skipping a beat when alisha gets so close. has she ever gotten this close to her? to sorey, even? rose sort of doesn't think she has! hmm. she's just as warm as rose imagined she'd be. it's nice.

she's so surprised that she almost misses what alisha says afterward, but that is no less surprising, too. ]

Oh, yeah? Well, that's a shock. I'm no princess or knight or Shepherd or seraph, you know. Care to elaborate?

[ rose manages to keep her tone as confident as ever, tossing an arm around alisha's shoulder playfully and taking another drink. a long one. ]