snek time

[fordola]

[ It really wasn't that the Resonant was scary. It was, well, the fact she'd woken up as a half-snake woman. Whispers about the summoning of Lakshmi having influenced her, just a simple mistake. To think, a Man could be turned into a Beast...

Fordola had fled, before she was experimented on more. She felt awful - she'd abandoned her men, for gods sake! (Ironically, saving their lives. For she never fired the cannon. For they were not slaughtered before the cannon could be disabled by Estinien.) But imperials had been sent out to take care of their little escaped snake.

Thankfully, Fordola had found a comfortable place, out of the way. Sunbeams hit just right, and she could warm herself up - the feathers on her hips felt weird, though. That wasn't Ananta-like... but she didn't care. (She did not know she was not an Ananta, but more cockatrice-esque.) She had to hide from the Empire... and the Alliance...

Just what would she do now? Other then sunbathe and notice this area was oddly... well-maintained. ]

Comments

[readypunch]

[She's been here for- she's not entirely sure, now. A long time, though- longer than she'd have liked. But it's quiet here, at least- and safe.

Which means that seeing another being there brings Yda up short. That's- a person? …with scales and feathers?

She sets herself a little more solidly looking them over.]

Who's there-?

[Something- seems a little familiar, maybe?]

[fordola]

[ At first, Fordola did not react. She tried to hide she was there, her tail flicking. Then she turned.

And stared. Before hiding some of her face, at least, with her tail. ]

......Um. You first.

[readypunch]

[Huh, that's… it's been a long time, but- she does look familiar. Except- she was hyuran, wasn't she?]

Hm? Well, but it's polite for visitors to introduce themselves, isn't it?

[fordola]

I'm not a guest, though. Didn't mean to come here.

[ She kept staring. Putting on her Garlean accent. Before mumbling. ] ...la rem Lupis.

[readypunch]

It's not easy to get in…. How did you get here, then?

[She prickles at that, shoulders rising. Rem…? But, since she's given her name…]. Yda.

[fordola]

[ She would have told her about how she was fleeing, and found this place. But that name-- ]

--Yda is dead. Don't mock me.

[readypunch]

…am I? [She looks herself over for a moment, an shrugs. Well- at least she's not being chased, then, probably? But then-

-they do know each other, don't they?]

Maybe that's why it's so nice here- or I did finally learn a few things after being stuck here.

[fordola]

[ She is! Fordolas' glare is heavy - but she can feel something weird in her head. (She does not know her powers. How they work.) ]

This isn't th'fucking afterlife!

[readypunch]

[She's not sure what's going on, but- if it keeps her off-balance, hopefully it won't come to blows.]

No? What happened before you got here, then?

[fordola]

...Woke up like this. [ She mumbled, before curling up on herself, trying to appear small. ] They were going to slaughter me - something went wrong.

[readypunch]

So before this… We have met, haven't we. [She crosses over, towards Fordola, and hesitates before settling down, resting a hand on her.] I did think- you look more, ah. Anata-like. But with feathers! It's cute.

[fordola]

...Yeah.
[ She's so tense, as she looks away. Her tongue flicking. ] It's me. Fordola.

...I watched you die.

[readypunch]

[She puts her hand on Fordola's head, ruffling, softly.]

I'm sorry. But you lived, didn't you?

[fordola]

...I did.

[ Quietly, looking at her now. ]

Ala Mhigo's gonna be liberated any day now.

[readypunch]

It is? [She's surprised, but- relieved, too, tension easing out of her shoulders.] That's good news.

…right?

[fordola]

...I joined Garlemald in the end, Yda. [ She says quietly. Curling up. ] To try and make a difference. Soon as I'm found, it's over.

[readypunch]

Oh. Oh. [But, when Fordola gave that title… she suspected. Still…]

Don't you think you can still make a difference? Even if it's not in that way.

[fordola]

I tried to, Yda. I tried to make it better for those who-- for those who I thought could unite everybody. 'm sick of the war.

[readypunch]

But Garlemald isn't much better for us than the Mad King was. [She reaches out, though, saddened, but-] War hurts us all, save perhaps those commanding it.

[fordola]

If Ala Mhigans had just stopped, then maybe-- then Garlemald wouldn't have had to kill any of them.

[ Oh, Fordola. She leans into the touch, a few tears building up. ]

[readypunch]

The thing is, though, we didn't want to be ruled over by Garlemald. And they didn't want us to live the way we wanted to.

[fordola]

I never knew that way, Yda. A lot of Ala Mhigans don't. Are ya sayin' we should give up for something we never had?

[readypunch]

No! No, gods, that's not it. I'm saying- we can't give up. Not for the freedom to be ourselves, not absorbed into another's ideals.

[fordola]

I was raised Garlean, Yda! [ She said, loudly - before feeling her voice die in her throat. ] These face marks... they mean little. I've lost my connection t'my home, haven't I.

[readypunch]

It's still here, though. There's bound to be someone who remembers at least part of what they all mean.

[fordola]

[ She curls up more. Cute lil snake, really. ] Even if they do, not like I'll be alive if... if Ala Mhigo really is liberated.

[readypunch]

[She reaches out to put a hand on Fordola's snake-like tail, rubbing gently. It is cute…]

Because of this?