H I G H N E S S @ronjasov - Tumblr Blog

wieldthelight:

“Not so little, indeed!”

With a delighted hum of laughter, Ikora stepped into Ronja’s embrace. It had been so long since she had been here, and she was so much older now, but some things never changed: the Warlock’s emotional shell still melted away under the Princess’ familiar touch.

Her hands rested on Ronja’s shoulders when she pulled away to really look at her. Corsair training must be brutal - Ikora would expect nothing less from some of the Reef’s most well-admired individuals - but Ronja seemed as though she’d learned to make the best of whatever punishing routines she had been living under.

“But just little enough.” It felt good to smile like this again; there had been little to feel genuinely happy about as of late. “Looks to me like you’ve been through hell and back, I don’t blame you. I likely would have spent my extra time resting as well, from the looks of you.” She gave Ronja’s shoulders a gentle, loving squeeze before dropping her hands back by her sides. “While it would have been wonderful to see you before now, I’m not complaining! I have to ask though: how long do you plan to stay?”

She squeeze Ikora in a tight hug, her smile bright and genuine. It reached her eyes, something it had so rarely done during her stay on the Tower all those years ago; those troubles were behind her now, however. Her smile lessened slightly as Ikora pulled back, but only because she wanted to talk.

“It’s tiring work but...” She smiled, and then curled her right arm to show off the muscle she had built up during her training. She was very proud of what she had managed to get herself to, and it showed; there was no shame in her showing off. Her arm dropped after a few moments, and she rested her hands on her hips, shifting her weight onto one foot.

“Mm, couple of days. Three at the most; this is my only week off for the next little while. And as much as I’d like to stay for the entire time...” She smiled again. “But I’ve got someone who’ll want me back for the last couple of days.”

#wieldthelight

wieldthelight:

A gentle, easily missed sigh escaped her as she rolled her shoulders, standing up straight to face Mara. The Vanguards’…conversation was nearing it’s end as it was, and Mara’s timing was impeccable to sweep her away from the exhausting topic at hand. The feeling of Zavala’s eyes on her even as she turned away from him stung, but only for a second. Ikora could sense him calming down, but it hadn’t been a pleasant talk.

“No,” she breathed, swallowing her lingering frustration, “I have time.”

The mood in the room seemed charged, but the crackle in the air seemed to fade as she took a few steps to close the distance to Mara. It was strange - most visitors simply walked into the Hall, when it was not closed off for war-talks. There must be something different about this one if Mara risked interrupting a session for them, which…was slightly concerning. She hadn’t seemed unhappy though. Who could be so important–

She froze at the top of the stairs, eyes locked on a young woman standing no more than ten feet away. There was a second in which Ikora’s breath hitched in her throat before she let a smile creep onto her face, softening her weary features. Dropping her professional pretense, she began to move toward the familiar presence, growing more and more delighted with each step.

She’d kept in contact with Ronja as much as their schedules permitted, but watching her grow up from the other side of a screen didn’t do the young princess any justice. She was unmistakable to Ikora, though - the others mulling about the Tower might not know who she was after all this time, but Ikora would always be the exception.

“…You couldn’t have come at a better time, little one.”

Ronja had been looking out across the courtyard when Mara and Ikora returned. Hand up to her forehead to block out the sunlight that she was no longer used to, she was looking for any other familiar faces she could talk to, but before she could actually spot any one, she heard footsteps coming her way. She turned, and her face split into a bright grin, and she opened her arms to Ikora eagerly.

“I always like to have good timing, Ikora,” she said. Her voice had changed some since her time on the Tower as a child; it had deepened a little, the hoarse quality had become all the more obvious, but it was all signs that she was no longer a little girl anymore. She no longer had that lanky-teenager look to her either. Her form was that of a grown woman, and one who had obviously been put through rigorous training.

She still had to tilt her head back a little to speak to Ikora and look her in the eyes, but it was no longer as great of a difference between them. And that amused Ronja immensely; she could so clearly remember Ikora towering over her as a child, and now, she had nearly caught up to her in height.

“Not so little now, I’d like to think,” she laughed. “God... it’s been too long since I’ve seen you all in person. I would’ve come much, much sooner, but y’know... Corsair training took up pretty much all of my time. The rest of it was spent sleeping.”

#wieldthelight

@wieldthelight

It had been nearly a decade since Ronja had set foot on the Tower, but it looked almost no different than she could remember. Maybe a few things had been moved around, paint touched up, different people, but it was all still familiar. She sighed, pulling her head free of her helmet, and reaching up to undo the bun her hair was tied up in, shaking it out.

"Holy shit. Ronja?”

The Princess’ head snapped over to the voice, and she grinned. “Keita!” The two Awoken women embraced one another, both talking at once in their excitement to see one another in person again. Ronja had kept in contact as best as she could, but it was still great to be in her old caretaker’s presence again.

“I almost thought you weren’t going to come visit; I’m glad to have been proven wrong. I can’t stay long, unfortunately, but I can go tell Ikora that you’re here before I head out?” Keita said, sounding disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to catch up. Ronja nodded, and then followed the other woman out to the open courtyard of the Tower. Keita told her to wait, just in case the Vanguard were busy (as an apprentice, Keita was able to go in and out if she needed to), and then headed into the Hall.

“Ikora? Are you busy? Someone’s here to see you.”

#wieldthelight #[ :^) ]

feathersandapathy:

Emma gave a little laugh herself at Ronja’s shake of her head, biting her lip and doing the same. “Sorry. I’m not really used to filtering myself. But yeah… I prefer my name in general too, though. Try Meine Dame for your entire life–- Even when you’re just doing stupid shit like trying to call dibs on the first shower in the morning. That’s the downside of living with your underlings and your family all in one… You know, when they’re the same.”

The Krusnik waited. Watched Ronja answer whatever text that was–- “Was that Mira? Is she looking for us?” Maybe she could stall some more. But she was still curious, and Ronja had dodged the question, and now, Emma was in trouble. Glancing away, she raised her eyebrows, breathing out and giving a little shrug. Ronja was still holding her–- She was grateful that the princess couldn’t feel spikes in heartbeat the way Emma could.

“Me? N-No, I mean… I’ve not really… Thought about it. I’m… Focusing on making friends right now, I think. Even if… Theoretically, someone had caught my eye, I don’t think I’d–- You know? I’m just not ready yet.”

I’ve never been ready. I’ve always been scared. This, especially, what you’re doing right now–- I’m not ready for it, Ronja. Stop it.

Breathing out after quite the silence, eager to change the subject, “…Is Mira coming? Are we going to have to relocate, or am I going to get my ears talked off?”

She wasn’t actually sure what to think of Emma’s answer. It was just as vague as hers, and maybe it was just her projecting, but it sounded avoidant as well. Ronja did feel her heart sink a little; one thing she could say was that Emma did not see her in the same light. She could understand that, though; they had quite the age difference between them, both chronologically and physically. Emma probably didn’t see her much more than a kid she was friends with.

Unfortunately, that didn’t feel right to Ronja. It was the dumb crush talking, of course, but she couldn’t help it. It didn’t help that she could tell that Emma’s answer wasn’t going discourage her, or her dumb crush.

“I told her, vaguely, where we are,” she answered, deciding to leave that specific topic in the dust. “Although, knowing her, she’ll be able to figure it out in a heart beat. Damn Crow.” Her foster sister was a Crow in training, and had, much to Ronja’s irritation, really picked up the tracking part of her training. And she was also someone who was well aware of the crush Ronja had, and was bristling about it. The fact that she was alone with Emma right this moment would drive her mad.

“Depends,” she continued. “How much do you want to deal with her today? She didn’t have much in training today, so she’ll at least not be irritable.” Well, over that, at least. Emma’s presence alone tended to make her annoyed by default. “We could just sneak out? There’s plenty of places we could go that she wouldn’t find us in.”

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

When Ronja next spoke, her voice had raised quite a few pitches–- If she expected Emma not to notice, she was sorely mistaken. The Krusnik watched, curious, as the other finally found her voice, and began to go on about home school and public school and–- Oh, she reminded Emma so much of herself. At the mention of being called such things by her teachers, the Krusnik chuckled–- That would be a pain. And yet–-

“I think the grass is just always greener on the other side. Growing up… Well, fuck, not even homeschooled, I would have done anything to make some friends that weren’t my books and my brother. It’s not as easy as it sounds… Princess must be grating, though, I can only stomach being called that in bed.” It seemed she had relaxed quite a bit. There were times like these, where things were so perfectly casual–- That Emma could forget how badly Ronja wanted her attention in a different way.

A little laugh to herself at her own filthy joke, and Emma shook her head, turning her attention back to the ceiling. The less tense Ronja seemed, the less tense the Krusnik seemed–- A direct correlation.

“The trick to making friends is that you have to keep trying, even when they’re scared of you. Most of my friends were terrified of me when we first met–- A lot of them were supernatural, they could sense an apex predator when they saw one. You just have to show them that there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Pausing, after the other spoke, Ronja’s blush was obvious–- And Emma bit the inside of her cheek, raising a brow. Trying to stay casual. She’d hoped the other would say no, but–- “Yeah? Who’s the lucky lady?”

“In bed? Why wo––actually never mind, I’m happy to not know,” Ronja said, shaking her head. Of all the things to not make her blush, it was that. Sure, she did want attention like that, but the more . . . intimate parts of it were still a bit far in her mind. “Being called Princess isn’t the worst one, honestly. I’m fine with it any other time, but in school? I’d rather people just call me by my name. Preferably my first name, since I’d definitely get looks if I was called by my last name.”

She was trying her best to stay casual as well, and she was clearly avoiding the question about who was the object of her affections was. She busied herself with her phone again (this time for an actual reason in that Mira had just texted her, asking her where the hell she was), buying herself another few moments of time to think up an answer that wouldn’t damn her.

But with the text answered, she had no reason to stall without it looking odd. She was sure she was going to be looking incredibly twitchy. She change the song again, and then set it on her stomach, one hand across the screen to keep it from clattering to the floor.

“Just . . . someone,” she mumbled vaguely. “You wouldn’t know her, so not important.” She scrambled for something else to say before Emma could ask her for more details, or ask her why she was being vague or something equally as terrifying to answer. “What about you? You’ve been in the Reef for a while; anyone caught your attention?”

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

The ceiling… Really wasn’t too fascinating. And although her eyes adapted to the dark all but terrifyingly swiftly, there wasn’t much up there to see–- Emma listened to the other, rolling onto her side to face Ronja just as the other seemed to have the same bright idea. Coming face to face, nose to nose with the princess, Emma startled, blue eyes widening.

Blue met blue, and for a moment, Emma forgot that she was meant to move. How long had it been since someone had looked at her the way Ronja was now? While she wasn’t intoxicated by the other, as Ronja seemed to be by her, it was a nice feeling. She came back to her senses as the feeling settled in her stomach, offering an awkward apology and shifting back onto her back with an uncomfortable clearing of her throat.

“…Anyway.”

That had been close, physically. Too much, too close, and as the other draped an arm over her stomach, Emma sighed softly. She felt the minute force of Ronja trying to pull her closer, and the fact that the heiress accomplished little but pulling her own body across the floor made the Krusnik chuckle to herself. She didn’t mind the contact–- It was far less uncomfortable, far less intimate than the nonverbal exchange of mere moments prior.

“That’s good. I never had the chance to attend public school–- My aging was too rapid, and my intellect would have raised too many eyebrows… Even if a child that aged a year per month didn’t.” It was hard, not to reminisce in the other’s presence. For every story the Princess told–- Emma had hundreds, resting on the tip of her tongue, waiting to be told.

Grinning and shaking her head slightly, “Boys aren’t… Too bad. I’ve always been inclined to both. Men and women, that is, but–- Women are better, I’ll give you that.” A soft hum as Ronja’s head left her shoulder, and the Krusnik listened. Wondering if she could get the other to speak, if only for confirmation of what she already feared, “Has anyone else caught your attention, then?”

It had been very close, and even Ronja hadn’t been sure how to react to it. Her breathing had stopped for just a moment, and it had been something of a struggle to keep her eyes from dropping to Emma’s lips, but she had managed. She simply kept her expression slightly surprised, slightly startled, but she could already guess that Emma would see right through it.

It took her another few moments to remember how to speak, and when she did, it was a couple octaves higher than it should have been. She quickly cleared her throat, hoping that Emma wouldn’t take too much notice into that little slip up.

“I kinda wish Mum would just have me homeschooled sometimes. I think it would be easier; I wouldn’t have to deal with people calling me by honourifics all the fucking time. Imagine being called ‘Princess’, or ‘Your Highness’ by your fucking teacher for a moment and you’ll understand my horror,” she said. She probably sounded a bit petty, but she really did hate standing out so much against her peers. “But no. I gotta ‘socialize’ and ‘make friends’. Neither of which really happens outside of a few noble kids who don’t seem to be afraid of me.”

She closed her eyes for a long moment, hating just how much she sounded like a whiny teenager. Sure, she was a teenager, but she didn’t like to complain like she did, especially when she was in a position like hers. It made her sound petty. Unattractive. Neither of things she wanted to be, especially in front of Emma.

But the thoughts were chased from her mind at her friend’s next question. Before she could turn away, she felt heat rush to her cheeks, and she knew right away that the blush would be obvious, that it would give her away. Even so, she did her best to shrug nonchalantly. “Sort of, I guess,” she said. What the fuck? She had meant to say “No, not really” but apparently her brain had other plans.

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

Had Emma been actively watching the other, perhaps she would have noticed. There wasn’t much that got past the Krusnik–- And while Ronja may have thought that she was being subtle, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Emma had noticed. Mira had noticed.

Fuck, everyone had noticed.

It was hard now, not to get lost in her own thoughts when Ronja was around. A defense mechanism, of sorts, and still, it was just as important to pay attention to the princess’s words. Little one, little one. It had stuck in her head, and it always would, as far as Emma was concerned–- Ronja was growing up, that much was certain, but as long as she remained little in Emma’s head… Well, Emma was the one that was in the clear.

…Anything beyond friendship with Ronja could have disastrous implications, and yet it was clear that that was what the young woman had on her mind. What the teenager had on her mind. And, in only a few years, she wouldn’t be a teenager anymore–- She would be a big, real problem. Oh, Emma didn’t want to ruin this. Emma didn’t want to ruin her.

She would be a dead woman. If not Mara, then Cain. If not the Reef, then the Orden. Gods, all of space at her finger tips, and she had still found herself caught between a rock and a hard place…

Clearing her throat (and her thoughts) after the other finishes, Emma allows herself to lie down as well, looking over at her younger companion. “I’ve… Not put much thought into where I’m headed, beyond the Reef. We are all kind of penned in like animals, waiting for the butcher to come back…” Grim, Emma. How wonderfully she managed to betray her own mindset, even after thousands of years concealing it. A pause.

“…I’m sorry. That was classless, I…”

The Krusnik took a deep breath, cracking her neck and returning her gaze to the ceiling before closing her eyes and letting a little smile curl full lips. “I love spending time with you too, Ronja. And I do promise, I do try not to fill the atmosphere with an existential dread…” One more pause, and a glance over at the other. “Anything interesting happening in school? Any cute boys?”

The blush was finally gone from her cheeks, and she was able to let herself look at the other again. Her brows pulled together for a moment at Emma’s rather dark statement. She knew that the Reef was rather vulnerable, if you really look at it, but putting it so blatantly was just a little bit . . . unnerving.

“Yeah, just a tiny bit,” she said with a soft laugh, holding her thumb and index finger maybe a centimetre or two apart. She dropped her hand and then looked to the ceiling as well. She actually couldn’t see it from here; the room was too dark to see much more than inky blackness above her. She just didn’t want to look at Emma for too long, or else that blush would make it’s return.

The Princess sighed, and then rolled onto her side so that she was facing Emma, and then draped one arm over the other’s middle. She tried to pull her closer, but she wasn’t all that strong, and ended up just pulling herself those last few inches across the floor. Not what she had intended, but she gave a slight shrug to herself.

She rested her chin against Emma’s shoulder and let her eyes drift closed. A little smile tugged at the teenager’s lips, and she gave a breathy laugh that mostly came out of her nose. “Good. For both things. I’ve dealt with enough dread to last a lifetime, existential or not,” she said.

Her eyes opened to look at Emma at the last couple of questions, and it took enormous effort to not roll her eyes at the one about cute boys. But she would at least give Emma an answer, which was a lot more than what most people got when they asked that sort of question.

“School’s the usual, I guess. People are starting to be a little less afraid of me for being the Crown Princess, which is nice. Nothing much more interesting, though. Same old, same old,” she said. And now came the second question. She wasn’t sure what to think of it, coming from her crush. It felt almost deflecting, and she had to wonder if that meant that Emma had caught on. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted that to be the case or not.

“Pff, no. Boys my age are annoying. Actually . . . boys in general are annoying.” She let her head drop to the floor again, but kept her arm across Emma’s stomach. “I prefer girls, but none at school have caught my interest.”

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

Emma found herself snickering at the huff and puff of the other, grinning at the words that had previously left her as she absentmindedly played with her hair. “Oh, I certainly will. If I ever take a gander through Jupiter’s great red spot, I’ll let you know before I come back wearing nothing but a smile. I’d imagine that thing could rip the skin and armor right off of a Cabal…”

Withdrawing her touch as the other flopped back onto her back, hands on her stomach, Emma gave a soft hum to herself–- Regretting the choice of words and rejoicing in them all in one. “Do I have to? No, I suppose I don’t. Would you prefer princess, princess?” She can’t help the teasing words from escaping her, but it’s clear that that is all that they are. Teasing. Ronja was gaining height, gaining respect right along with it. It was surprisingly strange to watch.

Listening intently as the other spoke, Emma laid back with her, resting her head in her hand as she propped herself up on an elbow. “Maintaining an alliance with the Tower does seem in the Reef’s best interests right now, I can say that much. Xenophobia doesn’t tend to get great societies very far in this galaxy…” She had seen it end three eras, never mind something as small as the Reef. She was about to continue speaking, when Ronja’s next words cut her off. Watching the other with concerned blue eyes, after a momentary pause,

“…Still in the Reef? It… Depends, I suppose. I’d like to be…” A soft smile, reassuring. “…And I would certainly value myself your advisor, had Mira not secured that position ages ago.” She wasn’t entirely sure what to say. After a moment, “Where’d that come from, hm? I thought we were having a good time up here. No need for worries like that, they’re all so far away…”

Wearing nothing but a smile. Ronja couldn’t stop the mental image that had conjured before it was already in front of her eyes, and she felt her face flush. She was really glad the room’s only lighting was from the stars and space dust outside; Emma would have certainly seen her change colour had there been actual lights on in the room.

“Better than ‘little one’. Eugh.” She stuck her tongue out at Emma briefly, hoping that briefly turning her way wouldn’t show the colour in her face.

She busied herself with trying to reach her phone from where she was sitting (she was still an inch and a half short), hoping Emma wouldn’t get a good look at her face until the flush had left her cheeks. “It worked for us for a really long time, but I don’t think the Reef would have survived Oryx without the alliance. Don’t think Mum would have actually allowed Eris into the Reef if it weren’t for the alliance, and if that hadn’t happened, we probably wouldn’t’ve known about Oryx until he was on us.” And by then, it would have been too late to do anything. “Cutting it off now, or when I’m queen would just be a dumb idea.”

She lunged forward and managed to drag her phone back into her grasp. She switched the song selection to something a little more upbeat, but still befitting of the space-y atmosphere of the room. She lay back down, setting the phone on her stomach and let out a very long sigh (which nearly sent the little device tumbling to the floor).

“Just . . . wondering, I guess. Everything’s so planned out for me and Mira, but obviously not you. You’ve got the option to leave if you wanted to, after all,” she said. She didn’t want Emma to leave, but she wouldn’t really be able to stop her if she chose to. “I’d . . . like it if you stayed, though.” She gave Emma a sheepish smile, and there was no hiding that look in her eyes. “I like you’re company, and I’d miss it if you decided to leave.”

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

Emma watched the other, but only while she wasn’t watching. A careful art, one she had mastered in her thousands of years, although she wouldn’t be shocked if Ronja could feel her gaze on her as Emma attempted to figure her out. What was the princess up to, exactly? She’d been acting odd. Odd was an understatement, truly, and yet what was Emma to do?

Nip this in the bud?

She should. She knew that much, and yet–- The Krusnik tensed as Ronja drew closer, as she draped herself close to Emma and flipped her hair out of the way. Ronja… Reminded Emma of herself, in a way. She was so obvious. And yet perhaps, had Emma not been encouraged… Had she not been shut down. If she had simply been allowed to be…

…Maybe, she wouldn’t have ended up as fucked as she was. Sighing out softly as the other continued to speak, Emma looked over to her, smiling warmly and tilting her head. A hand reached over to pet Ronja’s hair affectionately, the Krusnik taking a deep breath. “If I make it to the Jovians before you, I’ll be sure to come back and bring you along, okay?”

Seeking out the others gaze was less of a task than it should have been. Ronja was watching her like a hawk. Emma could only imagine what Mira would say right now.

“I…” Trying to find words, and failing. Trying to find something to break the silence that Ronja no doubt perceived as amicable, as friendly, but in which Emma felt nothing but discomfort.

Ronja was too much like her. Too young, with her eyes on someone far too old. It made the Krusnik’s head spin. Closing her eyes before returning her gaze to the stars, hoping to quell the uncertainty that was tying knots in her stomach, “What else will you do when you’re queen, little one?”

“Just so long as y’do. I don’t want you goin’ off and having some cool adventure without inviting me,” she laughed, leaning into her friend’s touch automatically. The Jovians and what lay beyond them fascinated Ronja; they were a mystery to even those in the Reef, and the Awoken knew a lot. Her mother said little on them too, but maybe once she would older she’d get to hear more about them. And the Nine.

Little one. The nickname made Ronja huff and frown, and she lowered herself onto her back, hands resting on her stomach. The nickname had been cute when she was younger, but now that she was sixteen and entering that “I’m growing up” phase, she found it less endearing.

“Do you have to call me that? I’m not that little anymore,” she said, sitting up and crossing her legs. And she was right; Ronja was likely just another inch or two from her full height now, and she had lost that awkward lankiness she’d had as a young teenager. She was still clearly young, but she could be mistaken for an adult at times.

She pursed her lips in thought at the question, despite the nickname that had come after it. “Besides wanting to see the Jovians? I dunno. I haven’t actually given much thought to what I’ll do as queen. At the very least, I’d like to keep an alliance going with the Tower, ‘cause I like the Guardians. The pissy nobles can bite me for all I care.”

She was quiet for a moment then, a question hovering in the back of the throat. “Y’think you’ll still be in the Reef by then, Emma?”

#feathersandapathy

feathersandapathy:

To say their friendship needed to be kept quiet was an understatement. Though long were the years they had known each other, three, at least, it was nothing but a blink on the radar to the age of the Krusnik woman, and would surely be nothing but an irritant to the princess’s mother. Something that needed to be dealt with.

Emma didn’t want to be dealt with. Not by anyone, but most certainly not by the Queen of the Reef. The fact that Ronja had all but smuggled her in was enough of a risk–- She didn’t need the Queen separating them. She didn’t need the Queen throwing her out. Mira was enough to deal with–- And Ronja was the only friend she had–- Younger though she was.

…And, staring out over the Jovians, Emma let out a soft sigh, knees drawn up to her chest and arms lazily draped over them. She was entirely unaware, of the look she was being given–- Or perhaps she knew it all too well, and was choosing to ignore it. For once drawing her eyes away from the vastness of space, Emma looked over to Ronja, tilting her head.

“A while, I’d imagine. Not many people would think to look here, your people are… Rather disenchanted with space by now, I would imagine. Me, on the other hand…” She cracked a smile, shaking her head slightly. “I’ve still got so much left to explore. So much left I want to see. I can’t help but wonder what else is out there, you know? I’ve only ever seen this place… And Mars, but only ever in photos.”

Ronja picked her phone up from where it was sitting on her stomach and scrolled through a list of songs. She selected one, turned up the volume, and then set the phone on the floor next to her, letting the flowing notes fill the space around them. She made sure to keep it low enough that it wouldn’t attract attention, or overpower their own voices, however.

“I dunno why people lose interest in it honestly. I guess living out here for your entire life would make it a normal sight, but I’ve been here my entire life too, and I still find the view amazing,” she said, only briefly looking to the wall-to-wall window in front of them as she spoke. Her eyes were back on Emma within seconds.

She rolled onto her front, sat up, and then rolled her weight easily onto her feet so that she could move closer to Emma. She dropped herself next to her with a little “oof” sound, and then stretched her legs out in front of her, hands behind her to hold herself up. Her eyes were still on Emma, although now that they were so close, she could feel her face heating up, and she did her best to keep her eyes on the view. Well. The view that wasn’t right next to her, that was.

“Maybe we’ll get a chance to see what’s out there,” she said. “I’ve only seen the Reef and Earth, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more. It’s just too dangerous out there for someone who doesn’t have training.” She gave her head a shake, tossing her white hair over her shoulder so that it wasn’t creating a curtain between her and her friend.

“One place I wanna see is the Jovians. Maybe even get a chance to meet the Nine, if they really do exist.” She grinned. “Maybe I’ll do that when I become Queen.”

#feathersandapathy

@feathersandapathy

Their friendship had to be kept quiet, although Ronja absolutely hated it. Her mother’s interactions with Emma’s father had been nothing less than borderline hostile, and Ronja had no doubt Mara would have a similar reaction to hearing about Emma. That, and the fact that she was close to the Princess would no doubt set her off.

The biggest obstacle was keeping Mira from blabbing, but Ronja had managed to beg and bribe her into a reluctant silence on the matter. However, the older of the pair never seemed to leave Ronja and Emma to themselves for more than a few minutes at a time, and soon enough, it was becoming obvious her vigilance was warranted.

They were sitting in one of the rooms in the Reef that faced the Jovians; an empty vastness of space dotted with stars and painted various shades of purple by the dust and wreckage of the Reef. But rather than looking to the view, or even to her phone (something that was almost never out of her hands), Ronja’s eyes were focused on Emma, watching her with a curious look in her eyes that was both familiar and unfamiliar all the time.

She lowered herself so that she was resting on her elbows with a soft sigh, legs crossed at the knee, and her eyes still on Emma. “How long d’you think we’ve got ‘till someone finds us here?” she asked. It’s an innocent enough question.

#feathersandapathy

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