[she smiles softly, pulling the shawl closer around her shoulders—sings. this time, she starts at the beginning of the song, and weaves her voice through all four verses.
despite all her demure talk, as she sings, her eyes light up, the frosted crystal motif of her dress sparkling in the light through the leaves.
as she finishes the last note, drawing it out, she nods to soo-won, her smile much warmer.]
It's a lullaby my mother used to sing for us—for my sister and I—when we were younger. It's a traditional song among her people.
[as she sings, soo-won settles himself against a nearby tree. for the first few words he keeps his eyes closed, as though truly listening, before he watches her for the rest of the song. her delight manages to bring a smile to his face, and he returns her warmth when she's finished.
. . . . a lullaby passed down by one's mother. yes, soo-won thinks, that would be rather normal for someone's sweet upbringing.]
... thank you for sharing it with me. I enjoyed it, and I think I could hear the care in your voice, inherited from your mother.
Where was she from? Did she teach you any other songs?
[he tilts his head]
My mother's rather sickly, but I always love hearing her stories. I think that we can keep people's memories with us, if we tell them through tales of what we loved the most.
My mother was Northuldran, one of the people of the sun. [as she speaks, she runs her fingers over the fabric of the shawl] Before I woke up here, I was with them. Their ways of life are deeply connected with nature, and the spirits that surround us—that's why I thought our arrival here may have to do with them. But...
[she shakes her head. a lot of people haven't heard of spirits, and have had their own terrifying suggestions. could it be something else, then?
pulling the shawl off her shoulders, she walks towards soo-won, holding it out almost reverently for him to look at.]
This was my mother's. It was here when I arrived. Whatever pulled us all in here... I think it feels the same as you.
[ . . . hmmm. he listens closely, and moves closer so that he can examine the shawl curiously. he takes in the pattern of it, before lightly taking it in his fingers to place it back around her shoulders]
It suits you.
[he doesn't really make a guess as to why they were pulled here, but he's not interested in pulling her hopes down either. if anything, he'd like it if they pulled him up. he takes a few steps back then, raising a hand to the sky -
shortly after, a hawk descends and lands upon the cloth of his arm]
Gulfan was waiting for me, too. I've known him since I was a boy - so perhaps we were meant to be reunited with our important keepsakes.
[she almost shrinks back as soo-won drapes it over—her hands folding over her chest defensively, as if she's concerned they might accidentally touch him.
but it's over quick enough—and suddenly, soo-won is withdrawing a hawk from the sky. her face lights up with marvel at him, although she doesn't draw close. it's still a bird of prey, whether he's used in hunting or not—no need to test that beak.]
[gulfan is a beautiful, prideful bird and soo-won thinks he's very lucky he gets to witness him
but then he'll turn back to elsa with a smile]
Mm! I don't normally have this much freedom - or even free time. So it's nice, to get to play around a bit, while trying to puzzle things out too. Don't you think?
[oh, she’s so far off base. how embarrassing... she was only going by her own impressions based on her own world and culture, even though she knew there was so many here... and of course people other than nobles had hunting birds and got busy...
she wrings her hands, cheeks pink in embarrassment at her narrow world view.]
Oh. Um. Yes—or, well. No. But I used to be.
Now I’m more of a... [her mouth twitches in amusement at the thing she’s about to say, here:] ...free spirit, I suppose you could say?
[ah, it's a sweet reaction...... he offers a smile that he hopes is comforting, and reaches his hand out to come to rest over where she's wringing hers]
It made me happy that you thought so, so I hope that you're not worried about it.
[no harm done, elsa! (soo-won's just a liar!)]
Were you able to escape the constraints of public service? That's exciting!
[if her hesitation seemed a lot before, this time she very nearly yanks her hands away at soo-won's touch—but manages to stop herself at the last moment, the bunched energy simply diffusing through her muscles and into her fingers as an increased grip on her palms.
well. it's fine. she gives a little apologetic smile about... well, everything, and answers his question instead, brushing past all of that.]
...Less of an escape, and more of a... transfer of power to the best fit for the role. [her smile widens a little more, the tension of moments before easing out of her face. anna is an instant mood brightener.] My sister.
[oh - soo-won can't help but notice the slight tension, and so he settles for just one soft, reassuring squeeze before pulling his hand back. a soft bow of his head in quiet apology if he made her uncomfortable.
but.
something about her words manages to surprise him.]
... oh - and... what role was that?
[it couldn't be all that high-ranking of a leadership role if she willingly let go of it to a family member... could it?]
[the quickness of the touch doesn't go unnoticed. she should have figured that mister "i-like-to-behold" wouldn't miss her twitch. more familiar an action than she'd have preferred, but... in the least terrible way.
what role, indeed. elsa lets her arms relax, hanging at her sides—then clasps them together in front of her, letting the memory of anna's perfect beauty and poise—well, as poised as anna ever needed to be, in her eyes—at the coronation flow into her mind.]
[there's a beat of surprise, and she watches his face, waiting to see where his reaction settles—and relief etches her features as it blooms into delight.]
Oh, yes, of course. We're very close, Anna and I—closer than ever, now. I know Mother and Father would be so proud of her. She's already more than proven herself as a worthy Queen.
[elsa is gushing—and seems to realize it, clearing her throat, and laughing a little at her own enthusiasm as she rearranges herself.]
...I think that, for many noble houses, children are raised to see their family as competition—rather than on the same side, as a part of their own team. I hope that, to some degree, our unending support of each other can serve as an example—both in our kingdom, and in those we have trades and relations with.
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[she jumps, whipping around to face soo-won, clearly surprised to be caught mid-note.]
Won! I'm sorry, I thought no one else was around. Did I bother you?
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[he tilts his head]
Is there more to the song? I'd like to listen, if that's alright.
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[she smiles softly, pulling the shawl closer around her shoulders—sings. this time, she starts at the beginning of the song, and weaves her voice through all four verses.
despite all her demure talk, as she sings, her eyes light up, the frosted crystal motif of her dress sparkling in the light through the leaves.
as she finishes the last note, drawing it out, she nods to soo-won, her smile much warmer.]
It's a lullaby my mother used to sing for us—for my sister and I—when we were younger. It's a traditional song among her people.
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. . . . a lullaby passed down by one's mother. yes, soo-won thinks, that would be rather normal for someone's sweet upbringing.]
... thank you for sharing it with me. I enjoyed it, and I think I could hear the care in your voice, inherited from your mother.
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[care.
a care so deep and wide, it killed her. elsa's smile falters, but doesn't fall.]
She was a wonderful woman.
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Where was she from? Did she teach you any other songs?
[he tilts his head]
My mother's rather sickly, but I always love hearing her stories. I think that we can keep people's memories with us, if we tell them through tales of what we loved the most.
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[she shakes her head. a lot of people haven't heard of spirits, and have had their own terrifying suggestions. could it be something else, then?
pulling the shawl off her shoulders, she walks towards soo-won, holding it out almost reverently for him to look at.]
This was my mother's. It was here when I arrived. Whatever pulled us all in here... I think it feels the same as you.
And... I do, too.
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It suits you.
[he doesn't really make a guess as to why they were pulled here, but he's not interested in pulling her hopes down either. if anything, he'd like it if they pulled him up. he takes a few steps back then, raising a hand to the sky -
shortly after, a hawk descends and lands upon the cloth of his arm]
Gulfan was waiting for me, too. I've known him since I was a boy - so perhaps we were meant to be reunited with our important keepsakes.
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[she almost shrinks back as soo-won drapes it over—her hands folding over her chest defensively, as if she's concerned they might accidentally touch him.
but it's over quick enough—and suddenly, soo-won is withdrawing a hawk from the sky. her face lights up with marvel at him, although she doesn't draw close. it's still a bird of prey, whether he's used in hunting or not—no need to test that beak.]
Gulfan. He's beautiful, Won.
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[Gulfan stretches his wings wide before letting them retreat to his sides.]
I believe that he was showing off for you. Gulfan, this is Elsa. Elsa, Gulfan.
He's just getting fly time in since he was cooped inside most of yesterday. I'd feel the same.
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A pleasure to meet you properly, Gulfan. It must feel wonderful to finally be stretching your wings—I definitely know what that feels like.
[and, back to soo-won:] Do you hunt with him?
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[even if he wishes it wasn't uhhhhh in a place like this
but gulfan just watches elsa, curious]
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[elsa is watching gulfan watch her—and she tilts her head at him, smilingly.]
You're very regal, aren't you?
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He has a lot of pride, doesn't he? I'm sure he's unhappy to have been bird-napped along with the rest of us, but it's nice for him to see new faces.
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You must be enjoying it, too, then. Birds of a feather...?
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but then he'll turn back to elsa with a smile]
Mm! I don't normally have this much freedom - or even free time. So it's nice, to get to play around a bit, while trying to puzzle things out too. Don't you think?
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the bearing, the hawk, the lack of free time...]
Won, are you... a public-standing figure in your country?
[that probably covered everything from elected figures to nobility, didn’t it?]
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Do I come off that way?
I suppose I do have some noble blood in me, and often work with them - but I'm a mere traveling merchant, I'm afraid.
[he tilts his head]
Why? Are you?
[if they've same hat'd on so many things so far, and that's what she settled on]
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[oh, she’s so far off base. how embarrassing... she was only going by her own impressions based on her own world and culture, even though she knew there was so many here... and of course people other than nobles had hunting birds and got busy...
she wrings her hands, cheeks pink in embarrassment at her narrow world view.]
Oh. Um. Yes—or, well. No. But I used to be.
Now I’m more of a... [her mouth twitches in amusement at the thing she’s about to say, here:] ...free spirit, I suppose you could say?
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It made me happy that you thought so, so I hope that you're not worried about it.
[no harm done, elsa! (soo-won's just a liar!)]
Were you able to escape the constraints of public service? That's exciting!
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well. it's fine. she gives a little apologetic smile about... well, everything, and answers his question instead, brushing past all of that.]
...Less of an escape, and more of a... transfer of power to the best fit for the role. [her smile widens a little more, the tension of moments before easing out of her face. anna is an instant mood brightener.] My sister.
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but.
something about her words manages to surprise him.]
... oh - and... what role was that?
[it couldn't be all that high-ranking of a leadership role if she willingly let go of it to a family member... could it?]
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what role, indeed. elsa lets her arms relax, hanging at her sides—then clasps them together in front of her, letting the memory of anna's perfect beauty and poise—well, as poised as anna ever needed to be, in her eyes—at the coronation flow into her mind.]
Queen of the kingdom of Arendelle.
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but not in any way that's unpleasant, or unwilling to accept this. rather, once the pause fades he seems to seem delighted, offering up a smile]
A peaceful transfer of power amidst royalty - both of you sisters are very impressive.
[what a wonderful story]
I wish I knew more nobles capable of that.
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Oh, yes, of course. We're very close, Anna and I—closer than ever, now. I know Mother and Father would be so proud of her. She's already more than proven herself as a worthy Queen.
[elsa is gushing—and seems to realize it, clearing her throat, and laughing a little at her own enthusiasm as she rearranges herself.]
...I think that, for many noble houses, children are raised to see their family as competition—rather than on the same side, as a part of their own team. I hope that, to some degree, our unending support of each other can serve as an example—both in our kingdom, and in those we have trades and relations with.
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