what ralsei does with her hands is so important to me
call it a pattern more than a hard rule - but often, whatever's desperate enough to be expressed finds its way into the hands. thought, coalescing into action. affection, pooling into touch. fear, stalling into hesitation.
which may well be why i'm so fascinated by the way ralsei stows hers at the back
kept like that, they're removed from the situation - too far back to reach or interfere, merely ever cinching around what was antecedently given
ralsei is the ultimate embodiment of hands tied.
the prophecy's "prince" from the dark, meant only to assist and interpret, never to do. then comes chapter 5, and - SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT! -
suddenly... her hands are everywhere...?
her hands help when she wants them to and clench when she doesn't
her hands twine with kris', guiding them both through a puzzle she would've ordinarily waited to see solved first
her hands push flowery away
they swat at him, also!
her fingers pluck up the drink vouchers, eyes gleaming at her favorite among them
they help themselves to a bit of cheese, purely on a whim of taste
her palms cast an offensive spell for susie, instinct overriding a lifetime of learned passivity
and... loveliest of all... her hands fall naturally to her sides. loose and comfortable. tasked with nothing whatsoever, only where they happen to be.
in the wake of it all, ralsei kneels by the water, palms pressed together, praying like begging, begging like praying - doggedly convinced this is the far shore of who she can be.
and if the water answers at all, it does so with a reflection. one whose hands protected and defied. the change plain to any with eyes.
…you'd think a prophecy would know a better knot than that, wouldn't you?
ralsei's none the wiser. ask her, and she'd vehemently insist she can't alter a thing - least of all herself. but why ask at all? just take a gander at those mitts; they tell you plenty.
save some faith and belief for yourself, too, princess
