#tenayalla

[verseandrhyme]

[ “pegasus cheese” ] !!

" try it first, " rhajat says, quickly pushing the plate of fruit and... pegasus cheese towards mitama, " if you fall over and die, i'll be sure to bring you back. " her caution is... unnecessary, but as someone whose diet only consists of spice, fruits, and specific grains... the idea of cheese from a pegasus is horrifying.

Mitama frowns, leaning closer to squint at the plate. "I thought that you did not eat anything that resulted from an animal." She asked, raising a finger to poke the cheese. It was firm...there was that at least. "Or is it that you simply do not consume their flesh?"

Pegasus cheese...there was a good chance that the name was completely unrelated to the make. It was not unheard of, for things to be named such on a whim. How would one even milk a pegasus to create the cheese? Mitama had snoozed through quite a few explanations from Caeldori regarding the care of pegasi, but she was quite certain her friend had never covered the subject of milking.

"Wha- you said that you had not completed your research into reanimation!" Besides, there were certain things in life that Mitama was certain were not meant to be altered, and the cycle of life and death was most absolutely one of those things.

Mitama frowns at the cheese once more. "...a piece of it for both of us at the same time. That is my only and final offer. If not, you will simply have to eat it on your own."

[verseandrhyme]

[ hoshido + dip ] !!

it is not the only dance she knows, but it is the only one she's comfortable enough to be dragged into performing. although, she is the partner that tugs at mitama's sleeve and asks if they can dance together. though they do not dance near the center of the ballroom, instead, rhajat finds a space untouched near the ends of the scattered crowd and takes it as their dancing ground.

" there are a few steps i'm.. definitely getting wrong, " she whispers, grimacing when her swing doesn't match the length or flow of mitama's. it isn't enough to bring an embarrassed flush to her face but it doesn't take much to realize that she's trembling. whether from amusement or irritation, she isn't sure.

rhajat pauses for a moment before taking the leading step of the dance— her smile small but not invisible, " rate me. how obvious is it that i haven't danced in a year...? "

There is still a faint bit of annoyance simmering at the back of Mitama's mind. She still intends to have words with Rhajat regarding her behavior towards Mitama's date, and no dancing or other ball related events will discourage that, as soon as Mitama knows the words she wants to say exactly to her friend.

She would have forgiven her, had she succeeded in driving fear into his heart beyond fixing. But it still would have struck quite the tragedy in Mitama's heart.

Mitama allows herself to be dragged off to a private corner without complain. She even smiles and laughs quietly as Rhajat fumbles the first few movements awkwardly, even by Mitama's standards. "Just a few, hmm?" She asks with a teasing smile. She thinks there are a fair more than a simple few steps missed, but she would not so boldly jab where her friend was braving to share with her.

Though Mitama leads initially, she notices when Rhajat takes a step of confidence. It catches Mitama by surprise but she smiles and allows her to take the lead, following her step after her. "Hmm...I do not wish to be cruel with my ranking. Perhaps a five? Six? A full passing grade, you know."

Despite her mirth, it still sits like a poison in the back of her mind. Mitama's smile slowly fades until a frown sits upon her face as she continues to follow Rhajat's steps. "...I did not appreciate your attempts at scaring Claude to hide that you were given him a gift." She tells her calmly. "While I know it was only out of concern...I like him, Rhajat. I do not actively want to chase him away."

[dragon-kiddos]

“Kana,” The voice that speaks does not come from the people in front of Kana in the hallway. Instead, it echoes from behind him; ever so reluctant, ever so heavy. When his attention is turned, his gaze will fall upon Rhajat who dons a different attire— to the thanks of Ophelia’s persistence— one of silvers, blues, and black. Though even it cannot be the reason why she looks so uncomfortable standing in the hallway. “I apologize for not… you know, saying anything when I arrived.” And she was never going to if she hadn’t blown her cover by seeing Mitama and her father.

Rhajat clears her throat, pulling lightly at Kana’s sleeve. “Happy birthday, little one. I’d give you a… gift but… OK, can we leave this hallway. I can’t think properly with everyone staring.” ( Strange, since Kana was the subject of their gazes more rather than herself, but a request is a request. ) The diviner takes Kana by the arm and leads him into an empty hallway by the first set of dormitory dorms. A sigh, almost too heavy, leaves her lips before she turns back to Kana. This time, with a smile.

“OK, back to the top, Rhajat. Ahem, happy birthday, Kana. I have business to attend to in a bit so I can’t stay long but—” A box is pushed into the little dragon’s hand. “—here. Uh, it’s a few of the charms I managed to master last week. For each one, there’s a small note on what it does and how to call forth its magic.”

A pause before she continues, “Has anyone skipped out on praising you for your birthday? I’ll just need a name if so… heh, yeah just a name.” But a series of footsteps from approaching students, those who simply wish to walk throughout the school and converse, stop her from a fit of giggling. Quickly, Rhajat holds out her arms and manages a weak smile. “You can have a hug, I guess. I mean, sure. For your birthday.”

There’s been something off lately. Perhaps it was the weight in the air, or the dark aura that seemed to emanate around corners in the most familiar of ways. At first, Kana shrugged it off, but as the feeling persisted, it became too much to ignore. 

Something was here. But what? 

Kana.

Ah. The shadows’ liaison.

Rhajat’s voice is soft, as soft as it had always been. The same monotone allure, but he knows her well enough—or hopes that he does—to hear past it to the soft affections her words house. Thin fingers curl around his sleeve, drawing him back as he turns around, and the little dragon sighs in content as he finally faces his friend. 

Truthfully, he is a little upset that she waited to reveal herself. No doubt she had no intent to do so at all. And yet, this was a better gift than anything she had to offer. He follows without comment, knowing better to maintain his excitement until Rhajat was more comfortable. Only when she smiles does he finally squeal and throw his arms around her in a hug, cutting off her careful words in the process. 

“Thank you, Rhajat.” She could have left out a gift altogether, but he clutches that box tight against his chest after pulling away. “Seeing you is the best part of my day! I missed you.”

He pauses briefly. “Actually, y’know, Ophelia hasn’t said Happy Birthday yet…”

[verseandrhyme]

[ tinted glasses + bunny ears ] - oversized glasses with dark lenses and colorful frames. a little silly-looking. all while the sender sneakily puts up two fingers behind the receiver’s head, making them look like they have bunny ears.

she was only doing this in a determination to keep the photos she took with friends, for herself. maybe to pin them on her wall at home or in her dorm room until she left for home; but she's here now and father would tell her to make the most of this experience. ( to hell with that mindset... )

but mitama is the first friend— one of the only people she would take a picture with— that rhajat asks. the projectionist begins to count down and rhajat fixes the glasses on her face, slightly irritated that she went to grab for these to put on. either way, she keeps one arm behind mitama and raises her fingers to form 'bunny ears' behind the shrine maiden's head; holding her glasses from over her eyes at the last minute.

some could even say that the smile rhajat puts on her face for the picture is too genuine, too natural, but it quickly disappears after the shot is taken.

" there! i do hope that it's... of your expectations. never smiling again after this, that hurt... " a pause before she adds, " and you look great tonight. we will have to have a small talk about your date but until then, i hope you enjoy yourself. time to go back into hiding, "

The glasses do an effective job of blocking Rhajat's expression from Mitama for most of the time they set up for the photograph. Mitama does not mind, necessarily. She knows Rhajat enough to know that despite the scowl upon her face, she would not be here and tolerating Mitama's pestering if she did not want to be here.

Mitama settles comfortably into place beside her, keeping an arm wrapped around her friend as she leans into her. She feels Rhajat's arm shift behind her back, but thinks nothing of it. Her friend might simply be rearranging something, or grabbing something for her.

She misses Rhajat's fleeting expression, but Mitama laughs as the picture is taken and Rhajat immediately falls into a series of frustrated complaints. "My apologies my dear friend! Rest assured, I am certain that the photograph will be a delight and more when we see it. I thank you for putting up with me for now. I can heal your cheeks, if you are truly in need of it."

Her smile falters a bit as Rhajat presses in on her. "Ah, yes, there is that." It was not that she had intended to hide it from Rhajat. She simply...well, it had happened after she had spoken to Rhajat about all that cursing business!

"Really, there is no reason to worry yourself about that! Do you not trust my sense judgement of people? Claude is...frustrating, of course, but he means well enough and-"

Mitama's defense is cut short as the projectionist presents them with the photograph of their moment. Mitama takes it and smiles. It looks lovely...except...wait, what is that behind her head? "Rhajat!"

[ofdusk]

white woman jumpscare (...except not really)

for @tenayalla

She always has had quite the knack for wandering hallways.

There’s little else to do when your home is a mostly vacant and terribly dusty old fortress, and knowing every hidden little corner came in handy when playing hide and seek with Jakob or Felicia for the hundredth time.

Corrin had done it in Krakenburg too, again in Valla, and she’ll do it here just as well–learn every hiding spot, find her favorite places to nap. It’s simply routine. 

So when she isn’t preoccupied with her duties or her son, that’s exactly what she does. Wanders aimlessly, humming as she goes, waving at passing students. It’s only after she’s passed through one of the busier halls that Corrin even registers the feeling of being followed.

Another few moments as she continues, figuring whoever it is must have some sort of reason to be here wholly unrelated to herself.

But the feeling doesn’t ease, and so, finally, Corrin turns.

Nearly jumps a foot in the air when she realizes firsthand just how closely she was being followed.

“Rhajat!” it’s a breathless exclamation, more startled than anything. There’s a good moment of something like deja vu. Some things never change, evidently. Corrin should have really seen this coming.

“I hadn’t realized you were there,” a little laugh, “how have you been?”

[verseandrhyme]

It is not guilt that pokes at her heart, nor is it anger. To be frank, Rhajat was never a girl who knew her emotions well. There was desperation, love, anger, and… other things. But this is not guilt. No, of course not. Though it can only be explained as such when she leaves a note on Mitama's desk; simple, blunt, and asking for the shrine maiden to come to her room after classes end. With Rhajat skipping class and attempting to stay out of anyone's sight in case they tried to pull her to class, it was unlikely that she'd find Mitama herself and take her here. Especially since her issue would cause stepping outside to probably kill her. Maybe. Most likely.

"Mitama," Rhajat speaks to her from the other side of the closed door. "OK, I want to apologize first. About cursing your friends… well, classmates. And Ophelia. It wasn't any of my business to poke at your personal life." A lie, since she'll never put away the tabs she has on her friends and their schedules, but she could let the half truth sit in the air for a bit. And thankfully although somewhat oddly, the heroine hadn't been upset when the curse was lifted. Hell, they even skipped up to Rhajat and asked if she could teach them the specifics of the hex!

"Ophelia's fine, of course. Returned to her… hopeless, old self again. I'm sure you've heard her yelling arise once again today."

She's getting off-topic. Rhajat clears her throat and turns the doorknob, but doesn't open the door. "I can't promise that it won't occur again, but I'll attempt… restraint. Some restraint, not all. Hehe~" Still off-topic. She huffs out a grumble. "OK.. I'll open the door but promise that you won't laugh. I'm still in a cursing attitude so I won't hesitate to throw a hex at you!" She can't think of a day where she would curse Mitama in a gamble to harm her. Or even to irritate her. And maybe this is why Rhajat opens the door.

"You're familiar with this… type of attire, more than I am." The dress that Rhajat wears is ( unusual, slightly off in her tastes ) a polished, solid black; with an open collar and thin sleeves. The slit in the dress is only noticeable when Rhajat shifts her weight. It was a dress she saw during her encounter with Velouria, although it wasn't the one she paid for that day.

"I need help and no I'm not begging you for assistance." After a pause, Rhajat gestures to her bed, where an assortment of jewelry lies, immediately sticking her thumb in her mouth afterward. "The merchant wouldn't stop… giving me items. And now I'm not sure what satisfies this dress and what repels it."

She only agreed to go to the ball because of Ophelia; because they said something about Corrin going there. Or maybe that was a lie. Well, Rhajat already bought an outfit and three people saw her in it, so disappointing her friends by not showing up was unfortunately out of the question. Thank the Gods that she cared for her friends!

Hearing form Rhajat in the form of a letter rather than from the woman herself inspired a fair bit of worry, even if that was not her dear friend's intent. Mitama had always imagined that, so long as her friend felt the desire, there was little in the world that might stand in her way. (Save for their fathers, but that was a mutual grievance she imagined they would face for years to come.)

Worry encompassed much of Mitama's day as she wondered what her friend might be waiting for her for. Surely it must be important if Rhajat felt the need to impress upon her in a note and await her arrival. Finding Rhajat and finding out what she needed was Mitama's first priority as soon as class released her from its clutches.

Much to her disappointment, it seemed that even Rhajat herself would strive to delay her.

Mitama frowned as she stood outside Rhajat's door and listened to the girl's winding and whirling train of thought. She let out a quiet sigh to herself and shook her head. She had been...not angry, not really but...worried? Frustrated? "I did not want you to find yourself in trouble for activities I knew were harmless but others might not. In all honesty, I do not care if you throw the occasional curse at someone deserving of it."

...Mostly. There were a small number of people Mitama really would rather Rhajat did not curse.

With that as the subject of conversation, Mitama is certain there is...some kind of scolding anticipated. That Rhajat is going to chew her out for being unsupportive, flay her within an inch of her life for telling Hayato, tear their friendship to shreds before her for daring to intervene with Rhajat's work. The longer the door stays closed, the more the uncomfortable sensations starts to wind and whirl inside of Mitama's stomach, growing stronger and stronger until the maiden thinks she might expel the feeling upon Rhajat's door.

A door that opens. Suddenly. And Mitama blinks in surprise as her friend is revealed. "Oh."

Black. She might have expected that. Mitama gives her friend a quick up and down. "Familiar or not, it suits you quite well. You look rather fetching in it." She tells her honestly. Were Mitama not coming down from the unease she had worked herself into, she might have included more compliments in that as well.

"A shame we do not have Forrest here to aid us." She muses as she enters the room. Her eyes scan the jewelry laid out. Mitama's eyes widen slightly. "The merchant simply gave you that much?" She asks, looking at her dear friend. "You should come out shopping with me more often."

There was so much. Mitama picked up necklace from which dangled a half moon charm, split in equal parts black and white. With a smile, she held it up to simulate Rhajat wearing it. "Our own tsukiyomi, perhaps?" She jokes with a slight smile. "You could make a show of trying on each accessory until we find the right one."

[verseandrhyme]

" mitama, " rhajat grabs the shrine maiden's arm and stops her from leaving the classroom; the curse she put on herself earlier to stay hidden as the lesson went by seemingly disappearing once she comes into contact with mitama. she waits until they are the only ones in the room before speaking. " have you been feeling ill, lately? a bit lost? how has your sleep been? "

she frowns, " i thought i might have accidentally cursed you in an attempt to aim at one of your classmates. ophelia has already been... she's fine. anyway, i don't wish to stalk you but i require the names of all the male classmates you've talked to recently. in the past... hm, few weeks? maybe a month. " a beat before she adds, " not if you've talked to them yesterday and the day before. i already have those names. though, i have yet to be sure if they're the kind of fools to pursue your heart. "

"Rhajat." Seeing her dear friend suddenly appear was less of a surprise than seeing her in so crowded a space as the Golden Deer classroom. Mitama had been under the impression that it would be hard enough to get Rhajat to consistently attend her own classes with so many other people. To find her venturing into Mitama's rather than simply visiting her at her dorm was rather surprising. "You did not skip your own class just to come and see me, did you?"

Has she been...Immediately, Mitama frowns. "I know that I gave you an open invitation to cast your spells on me, but I had hoped I had been clear in doing so that I wished only to experience the kind that would continue to help our friendship flourish...I do not enjoy being ill, Rhajat."

But despite the other's worry, Mitama has felt no such thing. She shakes her head. "I have been fine...wait. At my classmates? Ophelia? Rhajat!" Mitama presses a hand to her temple and sighs. "Why on earth would you be cursing my classmates? They may be eccentric, certainly, but I do not think..."

...male classmates? Her heart?

Mitama fixes Rhajat with a greatly unimpressed look. "I do not know what you are talking about, nor what has planted this idea in your head. Though if you are cursing classmates who may be making attempts at my heart, perhaps Ophelia was not a miss after all..." No, that joke is far too cruel, especially when Rhajat is liable to take it seriously. Mitama waves it off immediately.

"Regardless. I very much doubt that any of the boys in the Deer I have spoken to have any intent of such." Lorenz? Ugh. Salem? Very unlikely. She thinks Soren is too busy licking his wounded pride from the arena for that, and Morgan had been furious enough to light her on fire last they spoke. "If you are so concerned with the behavior of the students in the Deer, then you should go and complain to Claude-"

“A true lover of roses admires every thorn.”

Mitama's teeth clack together painfully when she closes her mouth. There is a beat of silence (one she is certain Rhajat is smart enough to latch on to and Dusk take her, this was going to be unbearable) before Mitama resumes her sentence. "Complain to Claude about his students and their lack of a proper example. Now if you will excuse me, I have a nap to take."