2023-02-14: .the void's valentinE
- Log: .the void's valentinE
- Cast: Yuliana Kafim, Elisa Kafim
- Where: The Silent Castle, Kaffeklubben Island
- Date: 2023-02-14 (OOCly 2023-02-16)
- Summary: Yuliana makes Elisa a gift for Valentine's day; Elisa prepared her gifts in advance, knowing she tends to lose track of the days. They love each other very, very much. (Content warning: stalking)
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"Elya... is it all right if I work on something?" Yuliana asks, after another of those morning deconditioning sessions. Something about how she grounded her with what day it was. "I mean -- nothing large, not a weapon -- I don't even need to go to the stables, really, the servants can fetch my tools... just the one thing, really," she is so anxious to reassure her wife's nerves, seeking her approval. "Or would it be too dangerous...? Really, if it is, I understand. Please, I'm not trying to pressure you. I know you worry so."
But since she asked so nicely --
The day, as it happens, is the fourteenth. Of February!
And so, by the evening, Yuliana comes into the sitting-room. She can open the door even though her hands are full, because the snakes to either side of her are dexterous enough to work a doorknob. What she's holding is veiled in a green silk cloth; the green halter-top tied about her neck is silken, too, though her black pants are a pressed silk blend. It's just more practical.
(Her hair has begun to grow in, though it's still only a half-centimetre of teal fuzz at present. Perhaps Elisa is even helping with something or another to encourage it along.)
"Elya?" Yuliana calls, as she enters. She doesn't bother to knock. She may go where she pleases. "I-- I got you something," she says, stepping in, with a pleasant light blush about her cheeks. She's confident in her work, of course, but when the work is a gift... "It's Valentine's, you see," she explains, in case Elisa hadn't noticed. "It's -- something of a romantic holiday." In case she REALLY hadn't noticed, over an even longer timeframe.
Yuliana isn't going to judge her for that. Elisa frequently has only one foot in this world. If not for Yuliana, she fears she might float away entirely.
She hands over the veiled thing, and it is heavy like metal is heavy, though surely Elisa won't struggle with the weight. Pulling off the cloth will reveal --
It's a dragon in their style, four heads, four tails, two sets of wings and two sets of clawed feet. Its back feet and one set of wings form the base of the artifice, with little claws at each end of the wingtip; the structure is sound and does not wobble when placed on a table, because Yuliana's calculations were all quite correct. Its front claws are clasped together to form a shallow basin -- for burning oils, perhaps.
Each of its heads are articulated, and can be moved and posed. The horns of each many-eyed head are curved backwards, and suited to hold candles; the metal of their faces are designed such that the wax is clearly designed to melt down them in a most ferocious manner.
The raised wings, too, may be posed -- and each of the struts of the wing have been hollowed, to allow the placing of incence.
So, too, may the tails be moved about, and curled. They end in needle-points, and as Yuliana demonstrates, two switches on the side of its flank control a pump inside the dragon. Either those tails can be placed into something to draw a liquid or gas out, to travel through the candelabra and pour from their jaws... or the jaws, themselves, can take in smoke, and inject it into something through those tails.
"As -- as far as works of engineering go, it's rather simple," Yuliana says, possessed by modesty, "but -- but do you like it, darling?"
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
The fourteenth of February...
"That would be fine," Elisa says after a few moments. "It is the weapons that really put you in danger. Something smaller sounds like a nice idea." She smiles. "You are so considerate, my Yuliana. So good to me."
She doesn't tell her not to worry about it. Obviously.
Elisa is in the sitting room, sitting as it happens. She is regarding a book. She may be reading it. But Yuliana calls to her, and then she mentions she has something...
"Oh, yes," she says. "I had been looking forward to this day." But she may have forgotten today was it, is the implication. But she accepts the object, and Elisa indeed does not struggle. "This is for me...?"
She accepts it, and sets it on a table to properly unwrap its veiling. She then looks down, and...
"Ah!"
A little light enters Elisa's eyes; she is present in the moment. She looks at it, her gaze going over the basin, the claws, the horns and their faces. Ferocious, indeed. She reaches to notice the posed wings, the tails with her hands as much as her eyes. She demonstrates the switches...
"It is wonderful!" Elisa answers, "It is beautiful, and eminently practical." A dragon statue is practical? Well, she is a witch.
"You are so good to me, my darling." She leans over to for once initiate affection herself, to kiss Yuliana on the lips. She even uses an exclamation point.
Just the one, of course.
"Ah..."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
It's a nice idea! And Yuliana is considerate... "I could not bear to crease your brow," she assures her, and smiles. "Thank you, dearest."
Elisa doesn't tell her not to worry, and Yuliana will keep worrying about it. She couldn't bear to hurt Elisa again.
"Yes, sputnica zhizni," Yuliana encourages her, when she asks if the gift is hers. "Here, please, take it." She sits beside Elisa, once the gift is handed over. She watches her, anxiously.
And Yuliana's smile lights up with the light in Elisa's eyes -- with her exclamations! "I'm so happy you like it!" She has one of her own, though she is more given to them, at this stage. "I truly wished to craft you something you could use...!"
Elisa leans over, and -- at once Yuliana melts, with a pleased little gasp against her lips. Her cheeks flush a brighter shade of red, as she tilts her head, and reaches up a hand to steady herself on Elisa's shoulder.
"I'm so happy," she murmurs, again, when they part.
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Yes. That is well. Elisa does not like for Yuliana to suffer, but she would worry so if she kept doing such dangerous things... It is for the best.
Elisa takes it! And she is delighted. "I do," she says. "I can certainly use this, in many ways. I shall have to bring it to my ritual chambers..." Bring it herself. She does not tend to allow her 'servants' to handle her implements and tools.
A flush...
"I am also pleased," she says, and that's as close to expressing a 'mood' that Elisa is likely to get.
"I have things for you as well," she says, "As today is that day. Let me see, I've kept the box nearby, in case..."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
It's for the best.
"Wonderful," Yuliana smiles, all but foolish, as Elisa talks about how she can use her statue.
Elisa isn't as expressive as Yuliana is, but that's all right; she's just as lovestruck, hearing her talk about how pleased she is. "Oh, Elya," she sighs, gazing into her eyes with her own endless green.
Certainly that means Elisa can see the way hers widen, a little surprised. "For me?" She echoes, tilting her head. "You prepared -- oh, of course you did! You're always so organised, so forward-thinking..!" She releases Elisa, at least, so she can find her box, though she watches her with unveiled curiosity.
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
She can! She will! And indeed, Elisa shows her love in this way, and through her preparations. Such as this! She looks into those endless green eyes for a moment before she rises to find the box. Just looking. Just staring.
"Yes," she answers. "I lose track of dates," she admits. "But I prepared for this one."
So she brings out a box from underneath a table in the sitting room. It is purple and green, wrapped up nicely. She may even have done it herself, with her surgeon's hands made it so precise.
Within are two other boxes; one is transparent, and holds within it a bottle of some green tonic or another, which Elisa will explain when Yuliana asks, "It is for hair growth. It will help you to recover your beautiful hair sooner than you otherwise would. I know it troubles you so."
The other is a jewelry box. Within that is a beautiful bracelet, set with violet stones. It requires no 'charging'; it is ornamental...
...Well, it's also infused with energy that will let Elisa track it, but that's beside the point.
"I hope you enjoy them."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
Yuliana really could lose herself, in moments like this. She loves her so, SO much.
"Even so, you prepared... oh, Elya, you're wonderful," Yuliana says, with great affection. If Elisa had forgotten -- if she hadn't found the day important, the way matters of this world are so frequently unimportant -- that would have been fine, to her. She loves Elisa just the way she is. But, "you remembered it was important... oh, I must be the luckiest woman alive."
She takes the box, and carefully, carefully unwraps it -- "These creases are so neat," she compliments the veiling. Once it is open, she holds the bottle, and asks: "Darling, what is this..?"
Elisa explains, and Yuliana hugs it to her chest, briefly, before she drinks it immediately. She has total trust in Elisa, after all. "You're so thoughtful," she sighs, stoppering the fine bottle again. She doesn't question why Elisa knew she'd need it; perhaps it was a last-minute addition, after all.
She takes out the jewelry box, as well, and opens it with gentle reverence; "ah!" is the soft gasp from her lips, as she unveils that violet bracelet. Immediately she sets it about her right wrist, so it can live close to her wedding rings. "Zhenushka, it's beautiful! I'll wear it always...!"
Elisa doesn't even need to lay down a hint, by now.
She holds her wrist up to the light to admire those violet stones, with a broad, foolish smile, before she all but throws herself at Elisa, one set of arms wrapping about her shoulders and a set of tentacles to latch about her waist. It's Yuliana's turn to kiss Elisa, this time, with all the energy and passion she brings to the table at her most lovestruck.
"Look, look," she purrs, to her, when finally she sinks down away from her enough to gaze into her eyes again. She brings her wrist back about, so that Elisa can see the bracelet latched there, as well. "Isn't it lovely? And just like your hair! I'm enamoured!"
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Elisa would always find her again, if she did. That is her promise.
"I did my best," she says, and it almost sounds humble, a rarity for her. It it something that brought genuine effort... And perhaps something that anchors her to 'this world'.
The compliment is nice, too.
Elisa smiles as she drinks it. "It will still take a bit of time to work," she says, "But it will be far, far faster than waiting."
Perhaps it just didn't take Elisa long to make it?
Gentle reverence... Yes. It is close, it is there. "Ah--you enjoy it?"
Yes, she doesn't have to hint.
Elisa hugs her back, and notes the way those tentacles latch about her. How lovely. She kisses back, and while she is less effusive, there is perhaps real warmth in it. Despite her cool base temperature.
"I see it," she says. "It is perfect on you. And I thought you would enjoy it..."
"Yes, it is beautiful on you. It is 'complete' now that you wear it."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"Your best is the best," Yuliana affirms, at once. "There is no better!"
Faster than waiting... "Thank you, darling," Yuliana says, of the tonic. "I -- I had felt a little too self-conscious, in this state. I know you still think me beautiful, but it's too much vulnerability to offer the world... you know? If everyone saw me this way..." They're different to Elisa, of course. They don't get to see her when she isn't at her best.
"I do!" Yuliana adds, with glee. "I enjoy it very much!"
Elisa is cooler than Yuliana -- and perhaps Yuliana is a little cooler now, too, though she is still by far the warmest of the pair. She has always leant more passion to things; she does so joyfully.
"It's complete," Yuliana sighs, happily, and leans on Elisa's shoulder, her right hand curling at her chest. "I am always so happy to wear these reminders of you," she purrs, tilting her head to gaze up to Elisa from such a close position. "The world should know I am yours..."
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
No better... Yuliana values her so. It is heartening.
"I thought so," Elisa answers. "I do; I always will. But I know that it is not how you prefer to present, and I do so value your wishes."
They're different, yes. Elisa is able to see Yuliana vulnerable, but the world cannot--must not. With few exceptions...
"Yes," she says, "Very good. I am glad."
That joy sometimes infects Elisa, too. Never quite in as evocative a way, but some.
Elisa puts an arm around Yuliana, as she curls close. "Lovely," she says. "...Because I agree. The world should know." She then regards her own ring. "...Just as they should know of our bond, mine to you."
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"You're so considerate," Yuliana smiles, with warm cheeks, as Elisa speaks of her wishes. "Oh, Elya... you're always thinking of me."
Yuliana's gaze drops to Elisa's ring, following her wife's gaze -- noticing what she calls attention to. "Yes," she sighs, reaching out with her own hand to curl her fingers through Elisa's, as she regards her jewellery. "Oh, my Elisa... surely they feel it whenever you walk into a room. You're so quiet, so comfortable... no one could mistake that."
She's referring to the presence of a void witch, of course. Elisa might not have that same dead silence about her as Yuliana does, but she's still rather hushed. And Yuliana...
... well, she must see that as much friendlier.
"Perhaps I ought to find you some earrings of your own, mm?" She goes on to ask, almost a shade teasing, and surely she refers to the gold hoops she wears in her ears. (They're a boast, though they don't look it, immediately. She's confident enough in her abilities that she's able to wear something like that without a victim tearing it from her ears.)
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
"I am," Elisa says. "You are always on my mind, my darling."
She calls attention to her ring, of course. But Yuliana draws attention to her aura, as well. Yes... She is not that silence, but she is 'hushed'. And she has a different kind of volume when she exercises her power.
"I enjoy that idea," Elisa says, with a smile.
It is a wonderful idea, that she 'feels' more suitable to her Yuliana.
A little look to those earrings herself. "You should," Elisa decides, rather than questioning or laughing as well.
Besides... another tie.
<Pose Tracker> Yuliana Kafim has posed.
"Oh, Elya," Yuliana sighs, all lovesome. She thinks it romantic that Elisa gazes at her all night long, so of course, she'd naturally think it romantic that Elisa's always thinking of her.
Yuliana smiles, and affirms: "You're wonderful," apart from everything else in this wretched world.
But -- she should get Elisa her own set of earrings, and Yuliana's eyes shine, as she smooths her thumb over Elisa's hand. "Then I will," she promises her, all laden with affection. "Anything you desire, my darling... I'll fulfil it. You deserve nothing less than everything... you make me so happy, Elya."
Held in her arms and her gaze, Yuliana could stay here forever.
What a shame this world won't let them.
<Pose Tracker> Elisa Kafim has posed.
Elisa loves that about Yuliana, too.
"Ah, my Yuliana..."
Yuliana's eyes shine, and Elisa's hand curls under Yuliana's. "Ah, you truly are good to me," she says. "I am so glad that I can. It is my wish that you be happy." Not her 'only' wish. There are other things she wishes for Yuliana, like her safety. But happy is among them. She is sincere in this.
But...
She sets her forehead to Yuliana's.
One day, they will cease to be bound by what this world will 'let' them do.