Quest 296

[primrosella]

[Voice Post]

I, er...yes, hello again, everyone, it's so very nice to see you again! My, it's that time of the year again, isn't it? This must be our visit for the winter season, since the last one we had was, er, in the fall. It's, um, been quite some time since then, hasn't it?

...Yes, well, um. Yes. Er...

...Oh, honestly, this is ridiculous, I've never had such trouble with the visitors before--er, mostly, anyway, since there was that one time when--well, but that's beside the point. Um. It's just that there's someone here and I think he's been following me and I can't for the life of me puzzle out why, since every time I turn around he just up and disappears again! Honestly, I've never seen anything like it; normally the people who come to call are so eager to say hello. They don't usually sneak around in the shadows and turn up in nothing but glimpses wherever I go.

But, er, in any case, I am eager to say hello to people, and so please do stop by if you have a moment, since I'd like very much to visit with you if you have the time. And, er, I suppose if the person following me--or even if you aren't following me, but simply happening to turn up wherever I go on coincidence--can see this, too, then please do come out and say hello, yourself? I can't imagine why you wouldn't...

I'll be looking forward to it, very much so!


[OOC: As per usual, she's canonically from just after the end of Perils of Rosella, and with some very disjointed and vague knowledge of Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder. Not that that really means anything to anyone, but. If something comes up that I don't want her to know, I'll just have her forget it, so have a party--anything goes! HIT HER WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. Troll, threadjack, have a ball!

And of course, I am totally okay with backdating. ♥]

Comments

[follows]

[ His expression softens, wishing here was a way he could possibly cheer her up. Where he paws and fur, he'd come and lay his shaggy head in her lap and snuffle at her hands — a surefire way to cheer up any princess. But for now, he only has this face with its exasperated smile. ]

He's a Dog. And his masters, well. They haven't been the nicest guys and gals, you know? We are what people make us out to be. That's how it works— how we work. [ Greyling shrugs. ] And not a lot of people wanna be friends with Death.

But he's a good Dog. I promise. I know that doesn't make him stop what he's doing but it is what it is, I guess.

[primrosella]

I've heard he's kind. Death. People I know have met him and said so, but he's never been kind to me.

[She averts her eyes a little, hair curling in wisps around her face.]

Is he really good? Not just a good dog, but...good?

[follows]

[ Greyling laughs. ]

He's my big brother, Rosella. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't kinda biased.

[primrosella]

Biased or not, you'd know if he wasn't.

[But something he said earlier comes back to her, and she ponders it slowly.]

What did you mean, that you are what people make you to be? Do you mean that if I were less afraid...they'd all be less fearsome?

[follows]

Maybe not Blondie. I mean, she's my sister and all and I love her, but she's an actual bitch — no pun intended. [ His smile grows rueful, then maybe, a bit hopeful. ] But us Dogs, we're the manifest of what people believe our embodiments are. Death, the Hunt, Loyalty. For me and Blondie, it's pretty obvious a lot of the time.

But for Blackie— well. He's a little less cut and dry. [ A beat. ] He'll never be sweet. He'll never put away his claws entirely. But he's been known to be his own kind of gentle, sometimes.

[ Another light shrug. ] Love does that. I know it does.

[primrosella]

Oh, I see. You're...and that's why you're here, isn't it? And why you can apologize for them, because that's...oh. I do see.

[Her lip catches in her teeth and she bites at it, absentmindedly.]

All the times I slipped away from him...all but one, I was afraid, because someone else was counting on me to survive, and if I couldn't get away, then it'd be more than just me who'd be lost by it. All but the once. When I went to the dragon...I think that must be when he first met me. And I was ready for him, then, but my brother saved me first.

[follows]

[ Greyling exhales. A somewhat sigh. ]

The one that got away. Oh, Blackie.

[primrosella]

I wouldn't think he'd like me so, for something like that. Was I...was I meant to die then, on that day, and that's why he won't leave me alone now?

[follows]

Maybe. It's not for me to say. Only he knows for sure. [ A shrug. ] Maybe you were meant to come close and not die. Maybe that was enough to get his attention. Not a lot people are repeat customers, if you know what I mean.

[primrosella]

[That almost gets a smile out of her. Or perhaps it does--faint, but there, the slightest touch at the corners of her lips.]

No, I suppose that's true. My family seems to have a knack for it, though. Getting in and out of trouble.

[She looks up at him through her lashes.]

You're a good dog, too, Greyling. Is--is that all right to say? I don't catch myself complimenting many dogs, but the ones I've met seem to take that as one well enough.

[follows]

[ Attagirl, Rosella. That makes Greyling happy to see. And even happier to hear. ]

There's nothing a dog likes better, truth be told. Thanks, Princess. Really, I mean. My family isn't a walk through the park either, and you've been good. Real good.

And I've known a lot of humans in my time.

[primrosella]

[It's hard to keep her down for too long. She may not be the strongest or toughest or most fearsome person in the world, but she has her own strength, and it shines in the moments like this.]

We can't choose our families. That's a lesson I learned a long time ago. We just do the best we can with what there is, don't we?

I'm...glad, you came to talk to me. And glad too, that I've met all of you now.

[follows]

[ She's admirable, Princess Rosella. Greyling can see why her brother likes her so much, beyond the bristling territorialness that is and always has been his nature. Were he able to stay a while longer, perhaps he would offer up his name to her and invite her to serve as his master. All dogs need masters, after all. And the purer of heart, the better. ]

I'm glad I came to talk to you too. I kinda wish things didn't have to be so, you know, harrowing, but they don't really know how else to express themselves. It means a lot that you'd even try to understand.

He needs more people like that. We all do. [ A small sort of smile. ] I hope— well, I hope it's a good long while before he comes calling again.

[primrosella]

[She nods a little, managing a slightly wider smile this time.]

I knew a vampire once...I thought for certain he'd be horrible, just from his name, but then it turned out he was kind and courteous and--well, yes, dangerous, but that's simply how some people are, and even when he was dangerous he was never malicious. Not to me. So I think...

[She draws a breath, shakes her head, closes her eyes.]

If I could only stop being afraid, then perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. I do wish I could like him, the way my friends seem to. And sometimes people like that...they're the ones who need understanding the most, because it's the hardest to give. I don't...I don't know how good at it I'll be. But perhaps I can try, just the same. It's something, at least.