2024-05-04: .our family must grow for the sake of the childreN
- Log: .our family must grow for the sake of the childreN
- Cast: Elisa Kafim, Yuliana Kafim
- Where: The Silent Castle, Kaffeklubben Island
- Date: 2024-05-04
- Summary: Yuliana comes to her wife, after spending time on her own tasks -- and they're both thrilled to see each other. But they saw their nephew, as well, and Elisa and Yuliana ponder how to solve Maksim's loneliness... by inviting the faithful families of the Silent Calling to escape persecution in their Castle. Perhaps Elisa can take them on excursions, too...
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Elisa Kafim is waiting for her wife in their personal sitting room, the one next to their bedchamber. Today, she read Maksim's essay. Today, she spoke with her own mother about what it is to care for children. ...The conversation was awkward, but Elisa barely noticed. Between her stilted emotional affect and Adharis's enthusiastic difference, it was fine enough.
But now, at evening, Elisa sits on a chair that is so comfortable that, were it anywhere else, it might be a throne. She barely notices. Instead, she looks down at the tablet she was viewing, which has readings from the castle's cameras, considering visions of the children from today and what it is that they have done.
And Sokrova, naturally.
There is tea, though it is more here for when Yuliana arrives than for Elisa.
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Soon enough, Yuliana arrives -- and it's not difficult to think she was rushing through the events of the evening to get here. (It's not difficult, because it's right there on the cameras. She excused herself early, and declined to let the servants distract her on her way up.) The door bursts open, with an exuberant, "Elya!" And from her lips, it's far more suitable.
It's a good thing Elisa is seated on such a comfortable throne -- because Yuliana swans over to sit on her, immediately, in such a way that they ought to both be glad for the roomy chair. "Ahhh, there's so much to catch up on!" She whines, arms wrapped about her, as at once she leans in to kiss her wife. "I had to reassure our people... I suppose I missed a message I promised them, when that awful thing happened. But it's nice they care, isn't it?" Of course the Silent Calling cares about their Herald; perhaps, if they express it at just the right moment, she'll notice them.
She doesn't comment on the unequality of the parasocial relationship.
Yuliana leans forward, to pour some tea for them both. "You already had some tea brought in, too..." She smiles, all aglow. "You're so thoughtful, Elya. Here," she passes a cup to her wife, using one of those grasping tentacles, as she takes one for herself. "I didn't leave you alone too long, did I?"
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
It's so nice, the camera feed.
"Yuliana," Elisa says, and it is smooth like honey and almost warm. But Yuliana whines, and Elisa smiles at her, kissing back. The people... "Yes," Elisa says. "It is good that you were able to reassure them." Maybe they matter enough for that. Maybe. Who are they again?
It's fine.
But Elisa reaches out to stroke Yuliana's cheek, looking into her endless green eyes. "Yes," she says. "I am glad that you are with me." She disengages to take the teacup, an takes a sip. "You did not. I was thinking," she says, and does not mention the feed she was watching on the tablet that is now face-down on the table.
"I spoke with Maksim today. He showed me his homework."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Even when she's not beside Elisa, Yuliana's always thinking about her.
She's delighted to hear her name said that way, the edges of her frill curling as her smile widens. She hums agreement, when Elisa assures her it's good, and she could probably tell you who they were. ... in aggregate, anyway.
Yuliana tilts her cheek into Elisa's fingertips, her eyelids lowering with the comfortable trust and love which washes over her. "I'm here now, zhenushka," she murmurs, addressing her wife warmly. (She is still warmer than her wife, even if she needs those medicines to stay that way.)
And she sips her own tea, and doesn't ask about the tablet. Instead, her head tilts, as she brings up -- "Maksim? Yes, he showed me when I got out, earlier," she smiles, and has the presence of mind to sound a little embarrassed, as she laughs. "I think he may have been waiting for me all day!" He was. Elisa even found him pacing around, earlier. "He's quite an advanced writer for his age, don't you think? We should be proud of him, Elya."
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Elisa, too, thinks of Yuliana in this way.
She is pleased at the way that Yuliana's frill curls. The way her smile widens. Her own smile widens, as well. And then she listens. That warm address... Yes. Medicine helps, but it is what it is.
"He was certainly hoping to see us," Elisa says. 'Us'. Because he wanted to see her too! That's novel. "He is, I agree. I think I do feel pride of him."
A pause. "But the content of his essay was interesting, as well. What one might expect, of course-- 'cool' names and desires to learn interesting things. But when I consider how to 'care' for him, I must consider what he described as 'loneliness'. And I wonder how I can alleviate it."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"Good," Yuliana smiles, when Elisa expresses her pride. She's pleased to hear that Maksim wanted to see Elisa, too. And that Elisa saw him!
Yuliana tilts her head, though, when Elisa brings up what he wrote. "Ah, so...?" She trails off, as she thinks back to it, before she blinks. "Oh! Yes, he did say he was lonely without other children to play with, didn't he?" And she frowns, sipping at her tea. (Green, with honey.)
"I know his distance education does get together for class trips, every so often... but I suppose that is too infrequent to alleviate his loneliness," she sighs, looking back to her wife. "But what can we do, Elya? There are no settlements nearby -- and the ones down South are Britannian outposts, at that..."
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
"He did," she answers. "Among other things. But that was one that stood out to me. It is a lack, and one I do not wish to see continue."
She lifts her own tea to her lips, and lets it warm her some.
"Indeed," Elisa says. "The solutions appear to be two: either bring more children to the Castle, or take him out to see more children. But while this is simple enough to identify, it is more difficult to plan."
"...The... 'Haros'," she remembers, "Would be a good stopgap. But not a full solution."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"A Haro...?" Yuliana wonders. "It would be easy enough to program some for the children, but -- but you're right, of course, it's hardly the same as having real friends." She tilts her head up, regarding the chandelier. "Hmm..."
Her foot taps against Elisa's shin, as she thinks. "You know," she says, "some of our people are struggling, out there. We could invite those families here, couldn't we? The faithful would be good friends to our boys, I'm sure." Never mind that she's suggesting bringing their acolytes to an isolated compound to keep them safe; she's thinking entirely altruistically!
(Maybe that's the scary part.)
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
"We did enjoy them at that outing some time ago." Indeed--it is not a full solution itself. But it might be nice.
For now, Elisa holds Yuliana with one hand and holds her tea with the other, listening to the idea. To invite acolytes to a secluded compound, free from the outside world...
What a fine plan.
"Yes," Elisa agrees. "I am sure many of them have children, and we do have space here, especially if we expand somewhat..."
"Yes," she says. "That might be the solution."
Elisa looks into her tea for a moment, her features thoughtful. "I must still see more of the world... so perhaps I could also take him on outings, sometimes. To safe places."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"They're darling little things, aren't they? We could make our very own Void Haro..." Oh no. Yuliana's got that thoughtful look in her eyes which means she's already drafting up schematics in her head. It's a good thing Elisa is holding her; it means she won't fall over, even as she gets lost in thought.
She does come back to Earth eventually, though. "We do have a whole island," she agrees. "We could easily expand the communal Wings." Not the North Wing, of course. That tower belongs to Elisa.
And she smiles, looking to Elisa. "The children would be safe with you," she says. "I think that would be a wonderful idea, Elya." A light pause, and she thinks to ask: "The portals won't affect them, will they...?"
Well, passing through the Empress's realm so often might make Her more comfortable with those boys, she supposes, but she's not sure that's bad.
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
"I am sure you will come up with something exciting," Elisa says to Yuliana. She recognizes that look in her wife's eyes, after all, and while she could enchant an unholy Haro with the blood of the damned... it's probably better to make that Yuliana's job. She'd enjoy it more.
"Yes." Obviously not the North Wing.
"They would," Elisa agrees. "But no, they will not. I will shield them if something notices, but it is doubtful that such a thing would happen. I have control."
A pause. "Perhaps it will be good for the Empress, to see other lives. Either way, I imagine the cold will be..."
"'Cool', to them."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Yuliana would enjoy it more. And if she makes Haro a little unholy, well, it was up to her!
Elisa assures her that she'll protect the children, and Yuliana smiles, leaning back against her wife. "You do," she affirms, when Elisa assures her she has control of the situation.
And then Elisa goes on, and Yuliana --
-- bursts out laughing, almost losing her grip on her teacup before a tentacle comes up to steady it. Her other hand flies to her mouth, fingers veiling her lips as she giggles. "Hahahaha... Elyula, you're joking! You're joking!" She sounds delighted by this prospect. "Hahaha...!"
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Little unholy. As a treat.
Elisa has control over many situations, though not as many as she would like. She would prefer more control than less. But in this, she is confident.
She will protect these children. It has been decided.
But a slow smile spreads across her face as Yuliana laughs. She did it. She made a 'joke'. "It is also true," she points out.
But yes, she is pleased.