un: starburst, toward the end of this arc.

[valeas]

( Emilia di Carlo has seen better days, by the look of her. Her battle leathers are torn, soot and cuts still on her face — but she doesn't give in to the exhaustion just yet, nor the bile in her throat. First, she addresses the people of Alem, dignified and resolute. )

Prince Haiva sacrificed himself and leaves his sister, the young Cle-Florens, spared.

I was witness.

( A pause, then, as she allows that to sink in. )

Hell is sealed.

You fought with valor so others might live. I'm glad to have fought beside you, and will remember your fallen just the same.

If you've yet to evacuate, the time is now. Hassir awaits.

Comments

[cosplayqueen]

Yeah, that tracks. He seems like a really smart guy! Sure, we only talked once but, he is dating you so. :))

I promise I will! I will send you all the texts so it'll be like we're together until we can actually be together. FYI you'll be so annoyed with me by the time that happens.

[You know unless she just happens to go out of communication for a few hours because everything happens at once.]

[valeas]

( Oh, yes.

Those hours will most certainly be noticed, especially after all the texts Kamala did send while she could. It's a good thing their private missives have been in writing: it means Kamala is spared of Emilia's reaction upon learning the man in white targeted her.

She can see Kamala's fielding enough questions and concerns. Even in her exhaustion, Emilia can connect the important dots, and won't make Kamala repeat herself. Ultimately, what she cares to know most, to know first, is just: )

Are you all right?

[cosplayqueen]

[Kamala doesn't reply until her post finally winds down. She's had some intense conversations with her favorite siblings. She's emotionally spent. It is a relief this conversation is all text because she really can't do it right now.

Her heart is too heavy to be carefree, fun Kamala. Right now she's the teen girl who survived something no one back home wants to talk about anymore, the one who saw Waleed and Aisha die in front of her because of a cruel woman's desires, and is genuinely worried more death will come.]

I'm really freaked out and stressed, but yeah. I'm alright. It's been a super long day, Emilia. How are you holding up?

[valeas]

( Emilia finds her own state of being less important at the moment. She meets every day with the ferocious understanding she'll survive it, no matter how unbearable. There is no other option if she means to accomplish her goals, means to get them out of here.

But Kamala has answered her in earnest, and Emilia wants to do the same, wants her to feel that her voice matters and she has the right to ask questions, too. It's tricky, being just the right amount of honest while keeping the true burden where it belongs:

On her own shoulders. Not a young girl who shouldn't have to fight these wars. )

I'm tired and I feel a little heavy. I'm also worried about you, but I understand I'm far from the only one and that in itself must be overwhelming.

The long day may not be over yet, but it will end, and we're still here. Sometimes I think that is the hardest thing. To dare to dream of better days. To choose to live and flourish despite the bad. But it is one of the most important things we can do in the face of undeath.

( A powerful and life-affirming thing. In that sense, she doesn't worry much about Kamala at all. )

[cosplayqueen]

[Kamala reads and rereads this text. She lets the wisdom sink in and become a part of her. In a lot of ways, it reaffirms her beliefs. It's easy to go along with. Kamala replies after a few minutes.] I'm sorry you're feeling like that. We've all been through a lot lately, huh? You're right tho. We're going to get through this and things will get better. I don't know about you, but I love dreaming. Dreaming is pretty much what I live for so maybe it'll help if I share mine. People say you should make manifest your dreams by talking about them back home.

So okay here's what I picture: you, me, and Allison having a girl's day. We are eating good food, maybe we can do our nails, and then at some point, we should probably call Five, your awesome dog, or your boyfriend Wrath so they can enjoy themselves too.

But, mostly Five because he'll probably forget to hydrate again. We should really keep an eye on that. But, yeah! Good vision or what? I especially like the eating part.

What are you dreaming of?

[valeas]

( The smile comes easily this time, worn though it is at the edges.

For a long time, she dreamed of justice for her sister. Emilia could think of nothing else but setting right what she believed to be a terrible wrong, unable to exist within herself or the world until true accountability was found. Until she'd made sure it was found.

Now that she knows it was all a lie, knows that her sister was a playwright crafting her own twisted tale, she feels bereft. Years of grief and sorrow and anger. They were for nothing, for an ugly scheme, but she doesn't know where to put them now.

She does need a new dream, it occurs to her. But despite how ambitious and driven she can be, she'll start small and sweet. She'll meet Kamala where she is, in this land of dreaming, and smiles as her eyes close to picture it. )

My olive trees.
In this wonderful vision where we are all eating at peace, I would make you all my favorite dishes with the olive oil extracted from them. Along with the herbs from my garden.
We would be by the ocean and stay there until the sun set.
I am from Palermo, so I've a preference for warmth.