#{ic};

[kuiikorosu]

"Whoever invented mornings, I have a buck shot for you."

[romanticaisms]

Under her watchful eye, Illuga feels so small and insignificant. After all, what business does he have to come before the Cryo Archon herself? Him, who until recently has been spending his life in the warm and dramatic Fontaine, listening to the exaggerated retellings of trials between missions and helping take care of others at the House of the Hearth.

"Your Majesty?" ah, he hopes that she won't notice the way his voice takes an uncertain undertone "I heard you wished to see me. May I know the reason for such a sudden call...?" part of him wishes somebody else would have come with him. He'd at least feel less like his insides are slowly being frozen if Lyney were by his side. Snezhnaya is such a cold and unforgiving place.

[ one Fatui lil birdie coming right up :3c ]

The room sits in crystalline silence, ice and frost in perfect stillness. For hours and eons, the Tsaritsa could remain seated upon her throne, as unmoving and unfeeling as a statue with her eyes falling closed and her thoughts continuing unheard.

But that is not the true reality of things, not forever, never forever, and so, eventually -

"You have been to Nod-Krai." It is not a question. Her Harbingers had all briefed her on the ongoings of that distant, disputed territory - the trials and tribulations, the beginning and the ending, who and what and where and why and how. "I thus offer my compliments to your efficiency and productivity - for every part has their role to play, and it would appear you have done well in yours."

A pause. It lingers long and heavy - and ends only when the Archon opens her eyes, finally gazing down at the young man before her.

"...And it is from that, that you have met the qualifications."

She rises - slow, careful yet imposing in the movement. "Despite the name, the Fatui are not fools. Ergo, neither are you. You are no doubt aware of what your fellow brother-in-arms is being prepared for in the coming years." The Tsaritsa turns her gaze to the side, idly watching the sights outside through the long row of windows that adorn the hall. "Of the duty—and the capability—to bear the weight of what shall come. The seat of the Fourth."

"Though Arlecchino shall remain for the long foreseeable future - in truth, no future is predictable, and neither must it be destined." She turns back to Illuga, watching him with no clear scrutiny or intent - but watching, nonetheless. "You are among the possibilities submitted to me. And so, your measure must be taken - in every way that this seat warrants."

The air in the room seems to shift with her words - becoming colder and heavier, every breath weighed down with snowflakes and hail crystallizing within the lungs in an instant. Yet, there is no malice to any of this.

No darkness, no emotion, no motives. Just the ice, just the Tsaritsa, approaching as a blizzard in nature would - simply, plainly.

"Child of my hearth. Tell me—" Her voice is quiet, her gaze distant. "What does your tomorrow look like?"

[ncmona]

Nemona keeps reading the message over and over again, as if the words would suddenly shift upon the next read-through, like in a dream.

"This is it... We've got a match in Mesagoza tonight! No, maybe even THE match!!"

Had she been hoping for an invitation like this ever since she had heard of Young Blood? Yeah, maybe.

"AAA!!! I can't wait!" The hours leading up to the event took forever, at least to her. Despite her strategizing, training and team building, that is. In the end she'd settled on a team, and made her way to the center of Mesagoza. In the middle of the plaza she'd wait, head whipping around at any and all noise that could be her opponent.

The thrill is incredible right now, and Young Blood hadn't even been spotted yet!

[plumcriaa]

"...Who drew on my face while I was asleep? I just wanna talk."

[fightiniumzee]

@topranged // continued;

"Ohohoho!" He can't help but laugh at that remark. A senior, eh? Guess it was true, though.

"Then you'd have how many nickels? But yes, I do not go easy on anyone. I'll give you your pointers soon, but first..." Hala hands her a bottle of cold water. "We should cool down, yes?" The Kahuna grabs a bottle of water of his own, leaning against the wall. Truth be told, he needed a breather after this as well.

"And please. Feel free to call me Hala." A sip of water, before swirling the contents around in the bottle. "You are a skilled fighter. Must come in handy with your range of work I'm assuming?"

[nolongeraqualeader]

"Hey. What the fuck--"

[dutifulsilence]

"If anyone needs me, I'll be in the Zora's Domain."