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 Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:28 pm
Izzie and Nayeni finally reunite after their disastrous first meeting, each eager to forge a path to friendship. Suffice it to say, the future looks sweet. :)
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:37 pm
 location TBD xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR The dance room was empty and silent when Nayeni peeked her head inside. Late afternoon sunlight poured in through the windows, illuminating the open floor and parallel bar along the far wall. She watched her reflection in the line of the mirrors: tiny, pathetic, alone. The memory of glass shattering amidst the flurry of rain rushed to the forefront of her mind, and her grip on the doorknob tightened. Flashes of that night followed: the lurching corpses, the arcing electric barrier, the blood dripping from Izzie's ears.
The feeling of Izzie's hand slipping from her own as she collapsed.
Nayeni drew back from the doorway in shame, casting her eyes down at her feet. But after a moment, she pushed forward, slipping quietly into the room. The door swung shut behind her with a soft click as she dropped her bag. Then it was silent again – just as she had been since that day. She had not dared to use her voice once, for fear of messing up again. Nor had she dared to face Izzie, who she had spotted here and there, at the ends of hallways or on the other side of the courtyard. Nayeni had hid every time, even though she knew such behavior was shameful. The proper thing to do was to apologize formally; but how could she go about doing that? Her usual choice of a gift basket of sweets seemed so… inadequate, when compared to the severity of the situation. She was pretty sure Izzie had made a complete recovery, but – she very nearly could have lost her hearing entirely. Forever. A couple of store-bought cookies did not nearly make up for something like that.
Grasping the parallel bar, Nayeni pulled her leg back and up, stretching out her muscles. This was one of the few times she’d ventured outside of her room since the incident; it was easier and safer if she didn’t run into anyone. Plus, she feared her potential retribution. If Izzie told anyone, would she be arrested? Would it put their kingdoms at war? Nayeni was certain Izzie had to be high royalty, the way she wielded lightning. Had she doomed her nation in her slight against the redhead? Or – since they were at a school… Would she get something like detention? Either way, if her parents found out…
She shook her head, folding over to touch her toes. For now, she would focus on her breathing and get some exercise; it would help to clear her head. And then, when she was ready, she’d find the courage to do the right thing. She’d beg Izzie for forgiveness if she had to – whatever it took.
… So Nayeni had said, but she was still woefully unprepared for what she would encounter once her dance break was over. On the way back to her room, she caught sight of that unmistakable head of red hair. Izzie looked dazzling as ever in the warm evening sunlight. She was carrying a plate of something, and appeared to be quite focused in whatever she was doing. Despite her earlier resolution, Nayeni faltered, out of fear of deterring the other student from her plans. But this was the proper thing to do, she reminded herself. She had to try.
Still not willing to risk using her voice, Nayeni attempted to catch Izzie’s attention with a wave of her arms. Once she was certain she’d been noticed, she began to shuffle forward, already shuffling through her bag. She withdrew a notepad and pencil, which she’d been carrying with her in case of moments like this, when she knew the other person did not understand sign. Nayeni busied herself with scribbling out her message, too afraid to look Izzie in the eye quite yet. And then she thrust the notebook forward, her words displayed in neat, curling cursive:
I am very very very very very very very sorry about what happened. I did not mean to hurt you. You were so kind to me, and I feel terrible for what I did. I will do anything to make it up to you, I swear it.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 7:27 pm
 
The days after the zombie attack had found the redhead locked in either her room or the kitchen. She had failed, horribly! Not only had she blacked out like some weak fool, she’d risked the lives of others. AND she’d been unable to track down her best friend. Though she had no doubts in Gwen’s skills, that wasn’t the point. She should have been there. She should have helped. Hell, she should have used her skills to get the princess to safety. And what had she done? Nothing. So, she’d taken every word her friend had said and toiled over confectionaries for the ones she had been able to assist.
Once she was sure she had the proper apology pastries, she set out in search of the young woman that had helped her the most. Nayeni. The fascinating woman had managed to get her to the nurse and keep them both alive while the chaos had run rampant around them. But every time she tried to catch the woman, the brunette was nowhere to be found. Or she disappeared in the shuffle of their peers before Izzie had a chance to thank her. It was starting to feel like she wasn’t wanted. Like Nayeni was purposely trying to avoid her. But, why would she? Was she that offended by her weakness? She probably believed her to be worthless for passing out as she had. She would make sense, of course, but she still wanted to hear it from her first
After spending yet another day baking her worries away, she carried a plate through the school towards where the dorms were. Perhaps she could catch Nayeni in her room. Granted, she had no idea where that was, but she’d try. She had to give the cupcakes and cookies she’d made to her. If she didn’t, she was sure to go mad. The lack of closure was starting to eat away at her. It was one thing to be seen as inadequate by her best friend, who had known her nearly her entire life. It was another to have a complete stranger view her as such.
Hoping that the treats in her hands helped her get what she needed, Izzie ran through her choices for getting to Nayeni’s room. Her mind went through each of them in turn, blocking out the rest of the world. Soft, and unintelligible, words passed her lips as she tried each plan. A shake of her head followed, her visible sign of shooting down her own thoughts. The mumbling scene continued as she slipped from the building and headed over the grass, her eyes on the plate in her hand as a secondary precaution. She really didn’t want to lose the treats.
It was thanks to her need to keep the baked goods from meeting the grass that allowed her to see a pair of waving hands. Her brows furrowed a bit at the sight, pulling her from her inner musing and forcing her gaze up. Who she found on the other end of the hands had her eyes going wide in surprise. It seemed the Fates were on her side tonight. Izzie opened her mouth to greet Nayeni, only to have a notebook pushed into her line of sight. Confusion took over the surprise and had her eyes narrowing a bit on the words that had been scribbled onto the page. Her lips moved once more as she read over the note only to pull down into a frown. Shaking her head, she lifted her gaze back to the other woman and sighed softly.
”You don’t have to apologize, Nayeni. I know it wasn’t your intention to hurt me. We were both in an extremely stressful moment, and things happened.” She did her best to keep her tone soft as she spoke, not wanting to let the memory of those…creatures return to torture her. ”As you can see, I’m just fine. I’ve been cleared of all injuries and I can hear just as well as I did before.” Izzie made sure to turn her head to each side, showing that her ears weren’t injured in any way. Granted, that probably didn’t mean much since the injury had been internal, but she hoped it would ease some of the stress she was sure Nayeni was feeling.
”If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. I pushed myself too far and ended up putting you in even more danger. I shouldn’t have blacked out. I should have been stronger. So, please, take these.” She offered the plate up to her companion, the fluffy cupcakes swirled with rainbow frosting taking up one half while chocolate chip cookies the size of a man's fist covered the other.
”It’s my small way of saying thanks. You know, for not leaving me in the hallway to become zombie food.” A rose tint began to creep up her neck and over her features, a sign that she was starting to feel like a serious fool in front of the other woman. She could all but taste the soles of her shoes, hoping to whatever gods were listening that Nayeni didn’t just outright laugh in her face. If she took the plate, she’d just tuck her hands behind her back. If she didn’t, well, Izzie wouldn’t let her. She’d keep offering it until it was taken. There was no way she’d allow anything less.
Location: School grounds Company: No one - Nayeni Thoughts: ‘Please take the plate…’ OOC:
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2025 4:43 pm
location SCHOOL GROUNDS xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR Oh no. Oh no, oh no, Izzie was frowning. Nayeni wilted like a flower under a blowtorch, bracing for what was sure to be a devastating impact. Of course Izzie would be upset. Of course she would not want anything to do with her. Of course she --
”You don’t have to apologize, Nayeni. I know it wasn’t your intention to hurt me. We were both in an extremely stressful moment, and things happened.”
Huh?
”As you can see, I’m just fine. I’ve been cleared of all injuries and I can hear just as well as I did before.”
What?
"If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. I pushed myself too far and ended up putting you in even more danger. I shouldn’t have blacked out. I should have been stronger. So, please, take these.”
Wait --
”It’s my small way of saying thanks. You know, for not leaving me in the hallway to become zombie food.”
In her dumbfounded state, Nayeni could only act thoughtlessly on instinct, awkwardly dropping her notebook and pencil in order to take the plate of treats outstretched toward her. She stared down at the confections, mesmerized by the blended colors of the frosting and the tantalizing chunks of chocolate. Belatedly, it finally registered in her mind that Izzie had made these for her. As an apology. Because she felt like she had been the one to let Nayeni down. And none of that... made any sense. Nayeni turned it over and over again in her head, trying to rationalize Izzie's perspective and dumbly staring at the cupcakes and cookies all the while.
Just when the silence had stretched on to the point of being painful, the duchess finally looked up. With her hands occupied, she could not write, nor sign, but when her lips hesitantly began to move, no words came out. Nayeni gaped like a fish, and took in a breath, and tried again.
"You aren't mad?" she croaked -- the first words she'd spoken since the last thing she'd said to Izzie. Immediately the redhead's figure blurred as her eyes welled with tears. "You aren't -- you don't blame me? You don't think I'm a m... a monster?"
That was how it always went, how people always reacted. If not fear, if not anger, if not disgust, then at the very least hatred. Nayeni had never known forgiveness to be a possibility.
Her throat burned with the threat of a sob, and Nayeni swallowed it down. She'd sworn to never put Izzie in danger again, and she was not about to immediately break that promise just because of this influx of emotion. She sniffed and cleared her throat.
"And you're okay? You really aren't hurt? There's no..." Lasting damage? Izzie had said as much already, but Nayeni had to make sure. Above all else, her safety and wellbeing were most important. Curling her fingers more tightly around the rim of the plate, the duchess took a tentative step forward. "You don't need to apologize, either," she insisted, more steadily now. "You were -- you were so strong and brave. You protected us. I never would have left you, not ever..." And she hadn't done much besides frantically gesture at the stranger until he picked Izzie up and carried her all the way to the infirmary. Nayeni hadn't left her side, though, not until Izzie had began to come to, and she was forced to retreat out of shame.
"I only wanted... I was afraid you hated me, so I..." Miserably, she dropped her eyes to the treats, and her heart welled with emotion once more. "This is so nice..." she blubbered. "I love sweets... Thank you so much, Izzie. Will you... Do you want to... My room is close by..." She knew she wasn't making any sense, but full sentences were hard to form when she was struggling to keep it together.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2025 6:13 pm
The silence that her offering earned her had confusion once more taking over. Had she missed something? Was Nayeni allergic to chocolate? Did she hate cupcakes? It would be a travesty to Izzie if she did, but there were other things she could make. Perhaps she was vegan! Or had a gluten intolerance! Gods be damned, she should have found out prior to making her the treats she had. She had put the other woman in an awkward position, one that she hadn’t meant to in the slightest. The last thing she wanted was to make things even harder for her possible new friend.
”You know, I can always…” The words faded away when a question was tossed at her, one that had her eyes widening in shock. Wait, what?! For a moment, all she could do was blink and stare. The very idea of Nayeni being a monster was…outrageous! She was kind, sweet, and powerful. The memory of her ears bleeding was proof of that to the redhead. Shaking her head, Izzie reached out and gently set her hands over the ones currently gripping the plate tightly.
”I am not mad, I don’t blame you, and you most certainly are NOT a monster. How anyone could ever think such a thing is preposterous.” While she knew what it was like to question yourself, she couldn’t make sense of what she was hearing. Nayeni hadn’t attacked her or used her powers to purposely harm her. And she’d gone out of her way to make sure Izzie was safe. That was the furthest thing from being a monster and she was going to make sure her new friend knew that. Even if she had to beat it into her head with cupcakes and cookies.
When more questions flew her way, she smiled softly and nodded her head. If Nayeni wanted to inspect for herself, she was more than willing to let her. Whatever she needed to make her feel better and see that things were alright. Izzie opened her mouth to offer such a thing but found herself silenced by the compliments that were given to her. Heat began to creep over her face, tinting her cheeks a soft shade of rose as she blinked at the other woman in surprise. Whoa, hand on, had she heard that right? She was thought of as…brave? Strong? No, that wasn’t right. A voice whispered in her head, memories of the past coming back to haunt her.
’You’re weak…you’re useless…you’re nothing…Remember your place is at my feet, Isabelle…’ It sent a cold chill through her to relive that voice, to have it slap her back down to the peg she belonged on. Shaking her head, she patted her hands against Nayeni’s around the plate. No, she wouldn’t let the truth ruin this for the other woman. She would just let her have her say and move onto the next one. Thankfully, for Izzie anyway, her companion kept going and gave her the out she needed. For once, her meek nature worked in her favor. Who knew it was possible?
”I promise that I am fine. That there is no lasting damage to what happened. The nurse here at the academy is very skilled. She had me fixed up in no time.” She lifted a hand to tuck her fiery curls back from her face, giving her ear a quick tug as if that proved her words to be true. ”Which is something you would have known sooner if you hadn’t been trying to avoid me. But, we won’t think about that. We will chalk it all up as a response to the traumatic event we both suffered through.” A wave of her hand followed her words, wanting to be done with the topic altogether. This was meant to be a nice reunion. One that could, hopefully, turn into something else.
”As for the rest, you are very welcome. I wasn’t sure what you would like, so I went with something I felt was universal. Confetti cupcakes and chocolate chunk cookies.” For a split second, she let her pride in her creations shine through. She might not have been good at a lot of things, but baking was definitely one she could check off in the competent column.
”And I would be honored to hang out in your room, Nayeni. I’ve never been to anyone else’s but my own. I’ve always wondered if they are the same. Were you able to decorate it?” With the matter settled, she finally released her hold over Nayeni’s hands and reached down to pick up the dropped notebook. The soft smile remained on her lips as she waited for her to lead the way to the dorms. She wanted nothing more than to ease her companion’s mind and, maybe, take the first steps to them becoming real friends.
Location: School grounds Company: Nayeni Thoughts: ‘She’s the furthest thing from a monster. Poor dear.’ OOC:
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 7:33 pm
location SCHOOL GROUNDS > DORM xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR Izzie's calming touch did well to anchor Nayeni through all her floundering and disbelief. Human contact always had that effect on her; in some ways she supposed it reminded her that she was not alone in this world, even after all those years of solitude. And the fact Izzie would dare to touch her at all... She really meant it, didn't she? That she didn't think Nayeni was a monster. That the idea was preposterous. It was a sentiment shared by precious few people in this world -- and only the ones who Nayeni had known for years. Never before had she heard such an affirmation from someone she barely knew. And the fact that such kindness existed in this world at all was enough to summon a fresh wave of tears. They dripped down her cheeks, threatening to drop onto the plate, and without any free hands to wipe them, all the duchess could do was keep her treasure out of harm's way.
Truly, Izzie had to be an angel sent from above. Her grace, her generosity, her mercy -- Nayeni had never met anyone so effortlessly understanding and forgiving. She was ashamed for having been so worried that Izzie would hate her, when that could not have been farther from the truth. Still, Nayeni's face flamed when the other girl chided her for her avoidance. It was something she wanted desperately to apologize for now, but it seemed Izzie was happy to let bygones be bygones. The cupcakes and cookies were an offering, a chance for them to start fresh and leave that terrible night behind them. Something Nayeni certainly would not be arguing with. So she sniffed and nodded and even smiled when Izzie explained her choice in baked goods. Most importantly, Izzie was willing to spend a bit more time with her, which was all Nayeni truly needed in the end.
"They look so delicious; I'm very excited to have some. I love chocolate," she said happily. "Thank you for - picking up my notebook. My room is this way..." Still a bit dazed, Nayeni wandered in a small circle before regaining her bearings. Flashing Izzie another smile, she began to make her way. "Yes, I, um, I might have decorated a little too much. I spend a lot of time in my room, so I like to keep it... cozy. I brought a lot of things from home." Bless her family's attendants for all they had done to help, really. "What about yours?"
They proceeded across the grounds until they reached the door to Nayeni's room, which she unlocked with a bit of juggling of the plate. She was always nervous to have people over, though a couple of her friends had come by already. Being in an enclosed room with her posed its own risks, but considering her bedroom was her happy place, Nayeni felt much more at peace within. She gestured for Izzie to come inside, then swiftly found an empty place to set out the tray of sweets. And at long last, she was able to wipe her eyes, and her face, and her nose.
"Do you want to eat some with me? Is that a strange thing to ask? I've never gotten handmade treats before..." Nervously, she flitted about her room, fetching a couple of glasses and a decanter of juice. "I just don't want to seem impolite, stuffing my face in front of you. Would you like something to drink? Oh, um, here..." Momentarily abandoning the beverages, she pulled up a couple of her comfy lounge chairs for the two of them. Then she set to pouring the drinks. Hosting wasn't her strongest skill, but she was certainly trying her best!
"You know, I... I really appreciate your kindness. M-most people who have witnessed my, um, mishaps don't respond so... mercifully." Nayeni settled into her own chair, folding her legs under her. "And the ones that have... fallen victim to it don't ever... forgive me. So I... I was worried you would be the same. And I wouldn't have blamed you at all! But I'm really happy you aren't." Feeling a bit embarrassed, she plucked a cupcake from the tray and slowly peeled back the paper. Although it hurt her heart to ruin such a lovely work of art, she bit into the sweet confection -- and melted into her chair.
"Oh, Izzie, this is divine! Are you a goddess?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 1:12 am
The sight of a blush on the other woman’s face had her smile softening a bit. Ah, so she was embarrassed for having hid herself away all this time. That was good. It meant that she wasn’t upset. She wasn’t mad for what had happened. It was a sign they could, possibly, become close. Maybe even friends. The thought set off a spark of delight within her, though she quickly covered it in caution. She didn’t want to get too presumptuous. After all, she was lucky to even have the one friend she did. Gwen had been gracious enough to befriend her, so she knew better than to assume others could. No one was as kind and accepting as her princess was.
”I’m glad you think so. I was worried they would be too much. I know sweets aren’t for everyone. I must’ve gone through five or six different recipes before I just gave up and went with a classic.” She felt her cheeks heat a bit at her admission, having really gone through so many possibilities for what she’d make. It had simply been a case of her need to make things perfect. To see the delight and joy in the other woman’s eyes when she received the treats. Izzie had felt Nayeni deserved that after what she’d done for her. Well, she felt she deserved that and more, but she knew better than to go overboard. Easy and sweet was a great way to start, and it had worked out in her favor just as she had hoped.
A soft giggle escaped her lips at the roundabout way the other woman walked. She must’ve been really shook up over things. Understanding completely, she cradled the notebook she’d retrieved against her chest and fell silent as they walked. Her mind played with the idea of what was considered too much as far as decorating. There was a difference between overdoing it and making things cozy, so it was hard for her to picture. Thankfully, she wasn’t given long to ponder over it before the conversation was turned to her own residence.
”I’m sure your room is lovely, Nayeni. They say your personal space is a reflection of yourself, and you are exactly that. Not too much by a long shot.” She gave her companion a reassuring smile before continuing. ”As for myself, it’s not much different than my room at home. My desk where I create my recipes, books on the wall that range from basic baking to some of the more…fictional types, and a few pictures of my family. Oh, and my bed, of course. I never considered hosting company in it, so I didn’t bother with more than the basics. I probably should, now that I think about it…” Her teeth caught her bottom lip as the idea of doing such a thing wove through her mind. It would be fun to return the favor to Nayeni. To have her come over and maybe have a slumber party? The only ones she’d had growing up had been with Gwen, and those…She shook her head, not wanting to go there. They’d been fun, in their own ways.
When they finally reached the dorm, she felt a giddy feeling wash over her. Excitement over the prospect of learning more about the other woman, curiosity over what she considered to be ‘cozy, and the joy of being given such a chance. It was all a bundle in her belly that had her hands tightening on the notebook, her eyes taking in everything as she stepped into the room at Nayeni’s invitation. It was so different from her own, and she was starting to see why it had been coined ‘too much’. It wasn’t, of course, but it was definitely something else. Izzie found herself fascinated by it, which in turn had her all the more interested in the woman that resided within its walls. She chuckled softly at said individual's words when her voice was pointed her way again, her head shaking in response as she moved to set the notebook beside the plate.
”I’d love to share them with you, should you desire such a thing. It’s not strange to ask and you should get used to it. I enjoy baking for people I like. It is one of the few joys I have in my life.” A shadow passed over her face at the comment, one that she quickly tried to hide by turning to look around the room some more. It was all so bright and colorful. So much like Nayeni. Did that make her boring in comparison? Probably, but Iz was used to that. She knew her place, after all. Bright and colorful was meant more for those in a higher position. Ones that deserved the light and the focus. Though she had no knowledge of where Nayeni fell in the hierarchy of her kingdom, she definitely suited the role one needed to have to be in the light.
”It wouldn’t be impolite to eat in front of me, Nayeni. Stuffing your face, well, that might be but that’s more a matter of manners rather than being rude.” She gave her companion a teasing smile along with her statement, wanting her to know she was only playing. The offer of a drink, and a seat, had her bowing her head in thanks before taking both. The juice was just tart enough to pair well with the treats, which she found herself enjoying as she sipped from her glass. Izzie fell back into listening as she enjoyed her drink, shifting to mirror the way Nayeni had settled into her seat. It was a bit odd, sitting so casually, but it felt nice to just be a person and not a Duchess for once.
”Well, most people are fools. Especially the ones that would be cruel to you over something that was so obviously an accident.” Her finger tapped absently over her glass as she spoke, a subtle sign of her irritation over the faceless people that had been mean to someone as sweet as Nayeni. ”To do such a thing is simply wrong, in my opinion. I am so sorry that you’ve had to deal with such narrow-minded idiots in your life, Nayeni.” Gods, she wished the other woman had reached out to her sooner. Izzie hated the idea of her new friend suffering with the shame and guilt over what had happened. Granted, she hadn’t been much better, but she hadn’t tried to hide. No, she would make sure that Nayeni never felt like that around her. They would be friends, good friends, and she would show her what it was like to have someone she could be herself around.
The outburst her creations pulled from Nayeni had her giggling softly in response. Rose tinted her cheeks as she shook her head, sipping from her drink again at the idea of such a thing. A goddess, really? Her? It was ludicrous. Outrageous. But, it did tickle her funny bone enough to have her grinning brightly at the other woman. No one had ever said such things about her food in the past. Well, other than Pascha and Ivy, but they were sweethearts and were notorious for loving most of the food that came out of the academy kitchen. Nayeni, on the other hand, was sure to have tasted better. She was probably just being nice.
”It really isn’t all of that. It’s just a cupcake. Sugar, eggs, flour, a bit of orange zest, and vanilla. Anyone can make it, honestly.” She drank from her glass again before reaching for a cookie, breaking it in half with a press of the edge to the plate. They were huge, and she knew she couldn’t handle one all on her own. ”One does not need to be a goddess to make a good dessert. I can show you, if you’d like. It’s truly easier than it might seem.”
Location: School grounds - Nayeni’s dorm Company: Nayeni Thoughts: ‘This is rather…fun.’ OOC:
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 12:51 pm
location DORM xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR Five or six different recipes?! Nayeni was no expert on baking, but even she knew that was a lot of work. To think Izzie had fretted over the gift to such an extent for someone like her warmed the duchess’s tender heart. Nayeni was curious to know what the other treats had been, too; it sounded like Izzie had started with some unconventional options, if she ended up opting for classics instead. The thought was exciting – and Nayeni’s curiosity only grew when Izzie mentioned creating her own recipes. There were a dozen questions on the tip of her tongue by the time Izzie finished describing her room, and she intended to get through each and every one once they were settled!
“It sounds like you’ve got all the most important things, though! And that matters more than anything else,” she enthused as they walked. “And – and I’m sure anyone visiting your room is there for your company first and foremost. Of course, if you ever…” Was this presumptuous to offer at this stage in their relationship? Nayeni fretted for a moment, then took the plunge. “...If you ever want help decorating, or… someone to go shopping with… I really enjoy those things, and I like to help…”
It was hard to say how much help she would be, though. Her idea of decorating was rather extravagant, as Izzie was now discovering. Matching furniture made of the highest quality wood, silken sheets and elegant duvets, original Muse artworks, fresh flowers, shiny baubles, Funkazan lanterns hanging from the ceiling… None of it was so mismatched as to be considered eclectic, but the fusion of Musique and Funkazan decor did not always blend seamlessly. Nayeni certainly had her own style…
She was pleased to know it wouldn’t be rude to ask Izzie to enjoy the fruits of her own labor, though for a split second she could have sworn she saw something sad and distant in the redhead’s eyes. And she definitely was not sure if it would be rude to ask about that. Mentioning that she had only a few joys in life was troubling enough. For all Nayeni had been through, she still found joy in a great many things. Did that mean Izzie had been through worse? Was that how she had grown to become so talented and kind and strong? That was – probably not a very good topic to broach during their first official get-together as friends.
So Nayeni smiled sheepishly at Izzie’s jape and chose instead to focus on the matters at hand, for now. Though as much as she appreciated her new friend’s indignance over her past troubles, Nayeni could not exactly say she agreed. The truth of the matter was that she had hurt the others very badly, in ways that were wholly unforgivable, accident or not. But she did not want to belabor that point, dreary as it was. And she did not want to lose this chance at friendship by revealing the monstrous things she had done quiet yet. “Thank you, Izzie,” she said earnestly. “Knowing there are people out there who would be so understanding… It means a lot. It gives me hope to keep trying. I really don't want to be a danger to people anymore.”
And if she failed… She would have to beg Francesca to take away her voice forever.
The duchess relished in her delicious cupcake, and put away two more giant bites while Izzie protested. Normally she would not eat in such an unladylike manner, but after the storm of emotions she had just weathered, the cupcake was like a healing balm. She shook her head at the other girl as she took a slightly more demure sip of juice. “I have had a great many sweets in my life,” she proclaimed, sitting up more fully in her chair. “I know the very good from the very bad! And this is among the very best.” Nayeni grinned back at her, then bit into the cupcake once more. She waited at least until she had chewed and swallowed before speaking again, one hand hovering over her mouth for fear of stray frosting. “I’ve never baked before… But it would be very helpful to be able to feed my own sweet tooth. You really wouldn’t mind?”
Ever generous... Very goddess-like.
“You said you create your own recipes, too? That is amazing,” Nayeni continued thoughtfully. Now was a good a time as any to start working through her long list of questions… “Have you been baking for a long time? Is it a family thing, or a – a you-thing? Are you very close with your family?” She must be, to have pictures of them in her room. Nayeni had only one small portrait of her and her parents from a few years ago. “Do you have siblings? Are you close with them? Oh, that might be a lot to throw at you at once, I'm sorry!”
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Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 1:48 pm
Izzie kept the mention of her lack of visitors to herself and simply smiled at Nayeni’s words. She had only ever considered asking one person to join her in her dorm, and that had been her fiance. Though, in a completely innocent way, of course. The relationship, or lack thereof, that she shared with Ellis was of a purely transactional one. She was married to someone that held a title, and her family money would further his family’s ventures. It was a win-win. Of course, the thought stirred something dark within her that she quickly shut down. She didn’t want to give her companion a reason to think something was wrong.
”I would love to go shopping with you some time, Nayeni. You’ve got such a fascinating sense of style. I’m sure anything you decide would be a lovely addition to my personal space.” It had been so long since she’d had a day of pure frivolity. Even longer so since she’d shared such a day with a friend. A true girlfriend. They could get lunch, or get their nails done. Would that be something Nayeni would even be interested in? Should she even ask? She was so used to just being told what her plans would be, she hadn’t the slightest clue as to how to go about asking another! Her nerves got the better of her and had her keeping quiet, not wanting to ruin the amazing progress she and her new friend were already having.
The thanks that were offered to her had her smiling brightly at the other woman. There was no need for it, but she had a feeling saying such things would have them running in circles. Instead, she nibbled at her piece of cookie and just listened. How Nayeni could believe herself to be a danger was beyond her. Here they were, sitting in comfy seats and having the loveliest of conversations. Neither of them were injured and her companion wasn’t trying to hold back from just being herself. It was the best experience she’d had so far at the school. So, why was her new friend so scared?
”I don’t believe you give yourself enough credit, Nayeni. You are a lot stronger than you think you are.” How Izzie knew that, she hadn’t the slightest clue. It was more of a feeling. One that told her that Nayeni was a lot like she was. Pushed down by those around her and forced to feel like she wasn’t worth knowing. Granted, the redhead actual was all of that and more, but she kept that to herself. Her best friend was the only one that had given her the chance, the only true person in her life who knew her true worth and cared for her anyway. But, that didn’t mean she couldn’t be that for Nayeni. She could help show the other woman just how amazing she really was. And get a new friend out of the whole ordeal!
When the topic returned to her creations, she chuckled softly and shook her head. Her cookies and cakes were basic, at best. Nothing fancy or worthy of such praise. She opened her mouth to voice that exact thought, only to be cut short as Nayeni continued. Iz curled her lips into her mouth to stop herself from grinning again, not wanting her friend to think she was laughing at her. She found it rather adorable how open her companion was. How willing she was to speak her mind. It was delightful and a refreshing change of pace for the usually solitary duchess.
”Of course I wouldn’t mind. It’s really not that complicated. After a few lessons, I bet you’ll be whipping up your own renditions of these cupcakes in no time.” She nibbled a bit more at her cookie, relaxing into her seat as the chocolate helped elevate her mood even further than it already was. Izzie enjoyed the sweet treat with her juice for a bit before running through the questions about herself that Nayeni had unloaded. She had no problems discussing her family, or her hobbies. They were easy enough topics and ones she actually enjoyed about herself.
”Yes, I do create my own recipes, and no it isn’t all that amazing. It’s a bit of a pain sometimes, if I’m honest.” She smiled softly at her own words, echoes of her first attempts at original creations drifting through her mind. There had been a lot of burned and disgusting treats made back in those dark days. ”I’ve been doing it since I was about seven. My grandmother taught me how to make my first batch of muffins. It was all downhill from there. After she passed, I was the only one left in my family that enjoyed it.” A sad look drifted over her features at the memory of the one person in the world that had ever truly seen her. The one person who had ever really loved her. The thoughts threatened her mood, so she brushed them off and refocused her attention on Nayeni.
”My mother believes that a woman of my status shouldn’t be in a kitchen unless it’s to give orders. That there are people in this world to do that so that I can spend my time learning other, more important things. My father, well, he’s a soft heart and lets me do as I please. So long as I don’t hurt myself or anyone else.” She chuckled softly at the memory of her father, his booming laugh and warm hugs filling her with a slight sense of homesickness she hadn’t experienced until this moment. He was her pillar of strength and the guide in which she viewed other men in her life. And gods, did she miss him.
”I like to think I’m close with them. I have three siblings, all brothers. The eldest is Liam, he’s a guard of high standing in our kingdom.” Images of her eldest sibling all decked out in his royal armor with his scarlet hair shaved so close to the scalp it was nearly bald filled her head. He was always serious and sober faced as he spoke with their father about the kingdom’s defenses or his thoughts on the militia. He so rarely smiled that she wondered if he was even capable of it anymore. The only time he’d ever seen it was when their mother had talked about him marrying one day. He’d laughed and just shook his head, telling her that his duty was to his king and not a woman.
”Then it’s Connor, he’s the charmer of the group. Mother always says that he was born with a silver tongue rather than a silver spoon in his mouth. He was always sweet talking our cook into giving him more dessert when Mother and Father weren’t looking.” The next memory was of her auburn haired middle brother, his wicked smile on his lips telling her that he was up to something. Whether it was smuggling a stray cat into the house, or sneaking out cookies from the kitchen, he was always getting into some kind of trouble. And he always included her, much to their parents dismay.
”The one right before me is Finnegan, though we just call him Finn. He didn’t like me until I was about ten, though I believe that was because he was the baby for eight years before I was born.” Her earliest memory of the brother she’d replaced as baby was of him telling her where not to go. That she wasn’t allowed to have any of his things and that he was mother’s baby, so I had better get used to it. Looking back on it now, she wanted to laugh. Finn was now her closest confidant and one of her best friends. His chestnut hair was always pulled back into a ponytail when they went riding or when he taught her how to use a bow. Another twinge cut through her chest at the memories her admissions created, causing her to rub at the spot on her chest above her heart absently. She really should send them a letter. Let them know how she was.
”What about you, Nayeni? Do you have siblings? And, if so, are you close? Do you have any hobbies that you share with your family?” More than happy to turn the topic onto her companion, she put more cookie into her mouth and happily munched while she waited.
Location: School grounds - Nayeni’s dorm Company: Nayeni Thoughts: ‘I miss the little brats….’ OOC:
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2025 6:22 pm
location DORM xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR A fascinating sense of style... Was that a good thing? It had to be, right? If Izzie was willing to go shopping with her? The mere idea of getting to do this together nearly had Nayeni shaking in excitement. Truth be told, for all her love of shopping, she had not had too many chances to go with a friend, outside of the times when Anika brought her along for her own sprees. The rest of her experience was limited to her wandering around the shopping district of her home town, fretting attendants in tow. Now she was here at the Academy, with no boundaries or babysitters, and the freedom to do as she pleased. She did not want to waste this opportunity, especially when she knew what was waiting for her if she returned home unsuccessful. "Then we'll do it! I can't wait! We'll have to find some time when we're both free, and... Oh, we should find out where in town would be good to go first. I haven't really had a chance to explore the merchant district yet; I'm not sure what the options are." Surely there was some place suitable for buying decor. Preferably one with high-quality imports! But that was a task for later; she wasn't going to make any headway on that front tonight.
Nor would she be making much headway on the topic of her self-worth. She flushed crimson at Izzie's compliment, finding a sudden and keen interest in a lock of her hair. Her words were far too kind, and far too generous, but rejecting the sentiment would be rude. She had never been strong in her life; it had taken her twenty years just to take her first tentative steps toward independence. Izzie didn't know that, of course. She had not witnessed the countless times Nayeni had cowered or stayed silent, and had no idea about her complacency with her own isolation. All the duchess could do was mumble a quiet thank-you.
At the very least, she did hope to get there one day. And she was actively working toward finding that strength and proving herself. It was why she gave it her all at the school, and why she was so eager to try new things. There was a lesson in everything, and even if she failed, at least she had tried. At least she had done something other than sit by her window and watch the world go by. She wasn't sure yet what the lesson in learning how to bake might be, but she would certainly be finding out. "Oh, I really hope you're right. I've never been good at anything besides dancing, and... even in that, I'm lacking. It would be so nice to have even one skill. And baking is so useful! I love to eat, and to share with my friends, so... A-all that to say, I am very much looking forward to trying!"
All the better if she was able to recreate the treats before her. Though something told her they would not taste quite as good without Izzie's special touch. She polished off the last of her cupcake as she listened to her new friend, then moved on to one of the giant cookies. Baking since such a young age... It was wonderful she had found something she was passionate about so early in her life -- and more wonderful still to have been able to share that with a loved one. Such an experience was something she had always longed for herself. To be able to join her family in singing and performing, to feel like she was truly part of the Arioso line... She would give anything to know what it was like, even if only for a moment.
Nayeni's eyes widened when Izzie mentioned she had three siblings. And all brothers! She leaned in eagerly, utterly transfixed by Izzie's words. What had it been like for her, growing up with such a big family? Her brothers were all so different, but it sounded like they still got along. Would she get along with her own sibling, once they were old enough? Would she be like Finn and resent her little brother or sister until then?
The thought weighed heavily in her mind, yet she was still caught off guard when Izzie turned her own questions on her. Nayeni blinked and leaned back into her seat. "Oh, umm..." Her own family dynamic wasn't bad, but it was definitely... different. Would talking about it bring the vibe down? She took a thoughtful bite of her cookie, then washed it down with some juice. "Well... My family on my father's side are all performers. Opera singers, mostly. We have, um... powerful voices." The duchess winced, knowing Izzie would understand the double meaning to her words. "They -- they can all do what I can do, but I'm the only one who can't... control it. So I can't sing, or... scream, or laugh too loud. I have to stay quiet. I mostly don't even speak when I'm around them."
Oops! This was going south, and fast. Nayeni flashed Izzie a nervous and apologetic smile.
"Wh-which I only say to explain why, um, why I can't really engage in their hobbies. Not that I spend much time around them, anyway. I mean, I spend time with my mother and father, of course. Though they are very busy with their responsibilities, so I am mostly left to my own devices..."
Oops again!! Surely she could salvage this!
"I, ah, I don't have any siblings yet! But I will have one soon. My mother is expecting; she's due in a few months. I've been very nervous... I don't know what it's like to have a sibling, and... Well, we will be very far apart in age. I think that will make things difficult, not growing up together and all." She would not be mentioning the reason why her parents decided to have another child, or her ugly feelings about it. "That's why I like to learn about sibling relationships from other people. Maybe I can preemptively learn from their experience. So thank you, for telling me about yours. I loved hearing about your brothers. And I -- I hope your mother will come around with your baking. It's wonderful that your father supports you, at least. And I'm so sorry about your grandmother... I'm sure she is very, very proud of you."
With a heartfelt and earnest look, Nayeni reached out and touched Izzie on the knee in a gesture of sympathy. After a couple of seconds, she withdrew her hand and settled back into her chair.
"Do you... Do you think I'll get along with my sibling one day? If your youngest brother is still eight years older than you, then you must have a big gap with the oldest, right?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:32 am
Just the prospect of being able to go on a shopping trip with Nayeni had her smiling brightly. The added benefit of seeing the same excitement reflected back to her from the other woman’s face made it all the more exciting and had her nearly beaming. She’d only ever been shopping with Gwen, but that had been more for the princess than for herself. Not that she’d minded, of course. That was her job as best friend. To hold her friend’s bags and offer her thoughts on the outfits that her bestie tried on. Not that there was anything that didn’t look stunning on Gwen. Her thoughts began to drift, so she shook them free and nodded in agreement with her companion’s comment about investigating before their trip.
”It is a date, then. I will check my calendar and let you know when I’m available as soon as I can.” With that done, she sipped from her juice and relaxed back a bit more into her seat. The topic of Nayeni lacking brought up the knee jerk reaction to argue. She had only seen bits of the other woman dancing, usually between classes or when she’d gone searching for her. And, while she knew very little about it, Izzie thought she looked amazing. So graceful and poised. It was a wonder she didn’t just glide when she walked. The thought threatened to leave her lips, but she bit it back and shoved more cookie into her mouth instead. It took her longer to respond, washing down the large chunk before shaking her head at her companion.
”I’m sure you already have more than one skill, but I won’t badger you and start an argument. You know yourself best, after all.” She smiled sweetly and did her best to keep the rest of her words to herself, switching tactics so she didn’t make her new friend uncomfortable. ”As for baking, I know you’re going to do great. It’s really easy. You just have to follow the instructions. So long as you can read, you’re sure to succeed. Especially with me around to help.” Determined to make it true, she reached for the juice to refill her glass. She was tempted to have another treat, but held off. She’d made them for Nayeni, after all.
The shift in the other woman surprised her, blue eyes blinking a bit as she watched her. Had it been a bad move to ask about her family? She hadn’t meant to assume things between them were on the same level as her own. Iz wasn’t naive enough to believe that everyone had the support she did. She was lucky and very different from her peers. She was tempted to change the subject, to give Nayeni an out, but her friend’s voice cut her off. So, she stayed silent and just listened. If she wanted to talk about it all, she was more than happy to give her the chance.
It wasn’t long before the answer she had asked for seemed to shift into an anxious bit of rambling. The familiar sight had an empathetic look passing over her features, her lips tugging once more into a supportive smile. It seemed they had far more in common than Izzie had initially realized. She waited for Nayeni to finish, to get it all out, before setting her cup aside. She reached out in the same way her companion had, though her hand settled over Nayeni’s and gave it a supportive squeeze. It wasn’t much, but she hoped it was enough to show her friend that she was there for her. However she needed it.
”We might not know each other well, yet, but I have a feeling that your control will come in time. Like every skill, it might just need a bit more practice. I can’t even begin to tell you how long it took me to gain control over what I can do. I used to go around shocking everyone I touched.” She chuckled softly at the memory of it, her eldest brother having ordered her to stay at least three feet from him at all times to avoid his hair standing on end in a ‘most inappropriate style’.
”Thank you for your sympathy. I really hope my grandmother shares your view of me. It would be nice to know that I’d made her proud. As for my mother, I hold no hope for that. But, I won’t bother going into the why of it right now.” A pat of her hand on her friends was where she left it, releasing her hold to settle back into her seat. The sound of Nayeni’s question had her arching a brow slightly, her hand rising to tap at her lips in thought. Every sibling dynamic was different, so she wasn’t sure how her own would help. But that wasn’t going to stop her from offering her thoughts on it.
”Liam is almost thirteen years older than me, so I’d say the gap is rather big. It did cause some strife between us as we grew, but I don’t think you have to worry about that with yours.” She reached for her glass and took a sip of juice, giving Nayeni a chance to digest her words before continuing. ”You aren’t a grumpy teenager who now has a little baby in their face. You seem to be excited at the idea of having a sibling, especially since you’ve been an only child for so long. I bet you two will be thick as thieves in no time. Just you watch.” Hoping her companion believed her, she took another sip and waited to see if there was anything else she could do to soothe her new friend’s worries.
Location: School grounds - Nayeni’s dorm Company: Nayeni
Thoughts: ‘Would I be okay with having a new sibling?’ OOC:
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2025 5:48 pm
location DORM xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR Could her comment about wanting to have at least one skill truly warrant an argument? Nayeni blinked at Izzie in surprise, caught off guard by the gentle smile that followed. Arguments were bad, right? Was Izzie upset? But she was smiling, and she didn't sound upset... And what would the argument even be about? How many skills she had? Why would Izzie --
Nayeni's mouth formed a perfect o as the realization dawned on her. Their roles had been reversed mere moments ago, when Izzie had denied her own talent, despite how Nayeni had praised her. Yes, she supposed she could understand arguing about something like that; sometimes friends couldn't see themselves the way you saw them and needed some gentle (or not so gentle) reminding. It was something Nayeni didn't often get to do with Anika, who lived her life with the utmost confidence and never denied praise. The idea of getting the chance to build up a new friend who maybe did need a little of that confidence was exciting, however much Nayeni did not want to get into an actual argument.
So she smiled knowingly, and allowed the matter to rest for now. "Well, I can definitely read, at least," she joked. Bit by bit, she tore of pieces of the cookie and popped them into her mouth, doing her best to not look like a complete pig in front of the other woman as they spoke about their families. Honestly, she ought to stop after this one, lest she ruin her dinner; it was getting to be about that time. But chocolate was so hard to resist. And she could just have a lighter meal instead, right?
Her nervous grin softened when Izzie reached out to her, even though she had not meant to sound so pathetic as to make her friend want to comfort her. Not that she wasn't grateful for it; there had been very few touches in her life that Nayeni didn't appreciate. It was amazing what a little bit of contact could do to soothe the soul. Oh, she very much hoped Izzie felt the same way, because Nayeni was guilty of touching her friends too much at times.
To have that bit of comfort -- and to hear Izzie's reassuring words -- very nearly brought tears to the duchess's eyes. She was saved only by the knowledge that Izzie had struggled with her own abilities, which to Nayeni was startling information. "Really?" she gasped softly. "You handle your lightning so beautifully now!" Even now she was in awe of the barrier Izzie had held around them, and how well it had protected them. Nayeni wished her own power could do anything except destroy... It was a useful skill for her relatives in the military, but for her? "How did you practice? I'm not sure how to practice with mine without..." She winced, knowing that even in the isolation of nature, there were still innocent creatures around that could be hurt or killed by her subsonic waves. "I need to, though... I think you're right, that I'll never get control over it without, um, letting it out. I just... It's very frightening. I don't even know that it's ever worked when I wanted it to..."
Normally, she wouldn't think to burden anyone with trying to help her figure it out -- save for Granny, who she hoped would be able to steer her in the right direction... But Izzie had proven herself undaunted by Nayeni's powers, so at least for now she felt brave enough to ask.
She wanted to ask about Izzie's relationship with her mother, too, but if Izzie didn't want to talk about it, Nayeni would not press. It was hard for her to imagine what sort of problem they might have. If Nayeni were Izzie's mother, she would be the proudest woman in the world every day. Even if her daughter liked something as 'common' as baking... Izzie was brave and accomplished and kind -- what more could a mother want?
Another question she could turn on herself. She knew her mother loved her, certainly, but she had never done anything to make her mother proud. It was so bad her parents had decided to have a second child -- their last shot at producing a suitable heir, if Nayeni could not show them she was worthy. Part of her hideously hoped her little brother or sister would be just as inept, or even more so. Yet at the end of the day, she could not wish her life on even her worst enemy. She couldn't say she was as excited about the baby as Izzie thought, but... she did want to have a good relationship with them.
Nayeni beamed at the redhead, choosing to believe in her wisdom. "I can see why a thirteen year old boy might not be happy about a new baby! I like to think I am a little more mature than that." She buried a rising giggle with the final piece of her cookie. "I truly hope it will be okay. I, um... I do feel a tiny bit jealous, and worried my parents might forget about me when the baby comes... But I don't want to hold that against my little brother or sister. I want to make an effort to bond. I want us to be close, and for them to know that I'm there for them."
The duchess took a drink of juice, then ran her thumb along the rim of her cup. "Still, it feels strange to be welcoming a baby sibling when women our age are usually starting to have our own... I know my mother was younger than me when she had me, but I can't even imagine..." Nayeni shook her head with a shudder, but a moment later gazed at Izzie thoughtfully. "Do you mind if I ask... And you don't have to give away any secrets or details if you don't want! But is there... Oh, how do I phrase this..." Pausing for a moment, Nayeni stared down at the bit of juice left in her glass. "I suppose this might be better: did you come to this academy with a specific goal in mind? Something you're, um, working toward? Again, you don't have to share anything you don't want..."
Knowing what she now knew of Izzie's family, it sounded like she was not actually the Princess of Lightning as Nayeni had thought. And if she was a duchess, with three older brothers... Not every kingdom was a matriarchy like Musique...
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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 10:21 pm
As silence stretched out between them, nerves began to stir within her. Had she said the wrong thing? She had been, mostly, teasing. She would never have argued with Nayeni about something that she knew nothing about. It wasn’t her place to tell someone what they were. Should she say something? It was hard to tell with new people, especially ones that were as sweet and kind as Nayeni was. Her fingers tapped anxiously against her glass, hoping that this wasn’t the end of a friendship she really hoped lasted.
When her companion finally spoke, relief crashed over her like a wave. Oh, thank the gods! She hadn’t gone and screwed things up! Iz chuckled softly at Nayeni’s joke and shook her head. Of course she could read! Everyone could, right? They were all of higher status, which meant they had access to teachers and books. Did Nayeni like books? Or was it just something she had to learn because she was royal? The questions burned on her tongue, demanding to be asked, but she ignored them. She took a drink of her juice instead, sitting quietly as she studied her new friend. The compliment that came at her, however, she had not anticipated and couldn’t help but blush over.
”You saw it during a life or death situation. I really had no choice. I’m just glad it was able to withstand those…creatures.” Her mind brought back the images of the zombies beating against her barrier, causing her to shudder in response. She could spend the rest of her life happily never seeing those monstrosities again.”As for practicing, that’s easy. Find someplace far from people, make sure you have plenty of water, and just let it out in short bursts. Don’t overdo it or you’ll burn yourself out. At least, that’s what I did. I don’t know if it will work quite the same for your abilities, but it’s a start.” It was all she could think to offer, not knowing the extent of Nayeni’s powers other than what she’d experienced. If there was another way to help, Izzie knew she’d be willing to offer it. Anything for her new friend.
At her comment on Liam, she laughed softly and nodded in agreement. Yeah, she was fairly certain his happiness at her appearance in his life was still nonexistent. She knew her eldest brother loved her, but there was a difference between that and actually liking her. Thankfully, Iz never had to worry about that. He was constantly off at the castle, doing what he was trained to. It was only during the holidays or family events that she had to face off with him. And even then, he tended to spend most of the time talking to their father about the royal guard and the military presence in other kingdoms. It was frightfully boring, so she always left them to it.
”I have no doubts that you will be a fantastic older sister to them. Jealousy is normal, no matter how long it has been between siblings. I think it would be odd if you weren’t, especially at this juncture in life.” The thought had always been in the back of her own mind, of having a surprise sibling herself. It wasn’t unheard of, considering how she came into the world. And she knew that she would be jealous of a new arrival. Especially if it were a girl. Her mind wondered over if her parents even wanted another child when Nayeni’s questions drifted through her head. Surprise danced over her features for a moment before she regained control of her expression, not sure how she was supposed to answer such a question without giving too much away.
”That is a rather loaded question, I’m afraid.” She started softly, her eyes looking into her mostly empty glass as she traced the rim with a finger. ”I’m here to represent my kingdom, and my family. To learn more about the world so I can better aid my people. Aside from that, and forming new bonds with others like me from around the world, there really isn’t much more to it. If I’m honest, I think I was sent because my best friend can’t stand my brothers.” Izzie chuckled softly at the thought of her siblings having to be around Gwen for the trip to the academy. She would have tossed each of them out of the carriage within the first mile. Guaranteed.
”What about you? Do you have a goal that you hope the academy can help you reach?”
Location: Nayeni’s dorm Company: Nayeni
Thoughts: ‘I hope I didn’t make that too obvious….’ OOC:
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Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2025 4:09 pm
location DORM xxxxx company IZZIE xxxxx outfit CASUAL WEAR It was very like Izzie -- as Nayeni was coming to understand -- to deflect credit for her impressive prowess. Certainly there was something to be said about human determination in the face of danger, but Nayeni was living proof the lethality of their situation couldn't wholly be responsible for what Izzie had accomplished. She had been in just as much danger, but she'd floundered, and her abilities had sprung out for all the wrong reasons. Not that her aria would have done any good even if she'd had some semblance of a handle on it. But that was beside the point! Izzie had clearly worked hard to form a solid foundation for her electric barrier, and it was that foundation that had allowed her to protect them in the moment. If Nayeni aspired to be able to do the same, she would have to put in just as much work.
"I think you are amazing all the same," she attested softly, but with a finality to her words that suggested her opinion was not up to debate, even if Izzie disagreed. "And I'm very grateful your barrier was able to hold them off, too. I only wish my scream could have done something useful... If we'd been attacked by living creatures, surely it would have..."
Her brows furrowed in concentration as Izzie offered her suggestion for how Nayeni could practice. Somewhere far away... She could be brave and make that trek on her own, so long as it was a place from which she'd be able to find her way back. Not wearing herself out was the hard part; she always felt so drained after her screeching slipped out. Though, perhaps, if she were not working so hard to keep it in... After a moment of consideration, Nayeni sat up straighter and nodded. "That is very good advice. Thank you, Izzie. I think I'll -- I think I'll start with that. Just a little bit, at first." Despite her determination, she could not help the flush that overcame her cheeks. Taking charge and making big decisions still felt so foreign to her, even for something like this.
But step by step, she would get there.
If jealousy over a new sibling was normal, then Nayeni could feel a little less guilty about it. When she really thought about it, she'd witnessed it before. Anika was definitely not happy about finding out she had a sister, and Francesca was not happy about it, either, and both of them were older than Nayeni even. She didn't fault them for their jealousy, even if at times she feared their disagreements would come to physical blows. As long as Nayeni did not develop a temper before her baby sibling came into the world -- and as long as she tried her best to be a good older sister -- everything would be okay in the end. She smiled at Izzie, easing back into her chair. "That makes me feel a little better, then. I'm -- not so used to feeling bitter, if I am being honest. But knowing it's normal makes it less... ugly, I suppose. Like my mother says -- we can't help how we feel, but we can help what we do, and that's what's most important."
She feared her question about Izzie's goals was indeed not her place, considering how it seemed to catch the redhead off guard. Still, the other woman offered up her response, with a strange sort of melancholy at first. But her answer did not sound so bad. Learning and forming bonds were two of the most important foundations of life, after all.
Of course, Nayeni was momentarily distracted by the mention of Izzie's best friend; her eyes went wide and she leaned forward in excited curiosity. A best friend of Izzie's was surely a most wonderful person, and she wanted very badly to know about them!! However, Nayeni held her tongue for the moment, not wanting to be rude and ignore Izzie's question.
And, admittedly, it was a loaded one for her, too.
Nayeni pursed her lips in thought, drawing her knees to her chest. "I..." she began uncertainly. "Well, I mentioned before about how... I am a bit of the odd one out in my family. My parents love me, of course, but I am... what's the word... a liability?" She gave a sheepish wince. "W-with the danger I pose to others and all. My father doesn't really trust that I would be able to take over the duchy. Or that if I did, I'd mess up and bring shame to the Arioso name. I think that's why they are having a second child, so they can pass the mantle on to them instead..." Nayeni wrung her wrists. "I came here to prove myself, to -- to prove to my parents that I am capable. I know it has to start with gaining control over my powers, but I also have to learn all about how to run a duchy. I want to go home and show them that I can be more than just a --" Her cheeks turned ruddy. "-- a bird in a cage, so to speak."
If she tried her best, she knew she had a good chance at success. The road ahead was long, but Nayeni did not want to shy away anymore.
"And even if I fail... Coming here is still the best choice I ever made. I've been making new friends, and -- for the first time in my life, outside of a couple of friends from home, people actually want to spend time with me. And there's you, too; you aren't afraid, even though you've seen what I can do. That alone is worth its weight in gold. It means more to me than you could ever possibly know."
Feeling just the teensiest bit emotional, Nayeni poured herself a new glass of juice and gulped a good portion of it down. "Goodness, I haven't spoken this much in a very long time, forgive me. A-anyway, I suppose, in the end, that's what this academy is for, right? Allowing us to form bonds with each other and learning from one another? That way we can work hard to maintain peace. I think that is as noble a goal as any!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 6:04 pm
The tone of her new friend’s voice had a soft smile playing over her lips. So, she wasn’t the only one between them that wouldn’t put up with someone putting themselves down. Impressed, and a little amused, Izzie nodded her head in understanding and left it alone. If Nayeni wasn’t going to make a fuss against her compliments, then she would return the favor. For now, she mused, as she sipped the last bit of her juice from her glass.
Nayeni’s easy acceptance of her advice had a warmth spreading through her chest. She had tried to be practical with it, but she hadn’t expected her to be grateful. Was this what it felt like when you were appreciated for your thoughts? Not that her bestie didn’t appreciate her contributions, of course. It was just…different. It had her own features flushing a bit in response and her eyes dropping to look into her empty cup. Whatever the feeling was, Iz wanted to enjoy it. To wrap herself in it for a little longer.
”Of course. And, if you ever need anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask. That’s what friends do, right?” The moment the words were out, panic gripped her by the throat. Was it too soon to make such an assumption? What if Nayeni didn’t want to be her friend? What if Gwen found out that she’d said such a thing?! The multitude of possibilities were threatening to crash into her. It had her drowning in all the doubt and fear she had come to expect whenever she thought of expanding her group of friends past her siblings and her princess. Maybe this was a bad idea.
The sound of her companion’s voice, however, broke through the darker thoughts. It gave her something to focus on and reminded her that this was okay. That they were just having an easy conversation as peers. There was no reason to freak out. Izzie took a deep breath to ease the weight on her chest and returned her gaze to Nayeni’s. Her smile returned and she nodded her head in agreement.
”Your mother sounds like a very smart woman. That’s definitely a good philosophy to live by. I wish others could follow it, then maybe we wouldn’t have had all the pain and death this world has seen over the years.” Her not so subtle mention of the war that had wreaked havoc on their world had a dark look passing over her features. She’d seen firsthand in her eldest brother the damage that the multitude of battles had caused their land. Izzie knew she was better off than most, but still. It broke her heart to hear the stories and see the ghosts in Liam’s eyes.
Reaching for the juice, she refilled her glass and broke another part off the cookie she had helped her to. Her dark eyes watched Nayeni as she spoke up again, concerned by the shift in the other woman’s sitting position. Oh no, had she asked too much? She hadn’t expected it to be a serious question, especially with how she had asked it of Iz. The urge to dismiss the question completely teased her lips, her body shifting a bit to have her sitting up straighter so she could voice her offer. The last thing she wanted was to make her new friend uncomfortable. Her mouth opened a bit to put forth the words, only to have them get caught in her throat at the look on the other woman’s face. Emotions flooded her, tightening her hold on her glass as she tried not to give in to the urge to just hug the poor girl.
Instead, she sat there silently and waited for her to finish. With it all out in the open, Izzie set her glass on the table with their snacks and reached out. It wasn’t a hug, but it was something her brother Connor did that always made her feel a little better. She gently grasped the ends of a bit of Nayeni’s hair and gave it a small tug. Not enough to hurt, just enough to tease as her smile turned into a grin over her lips.
”You can’t really fail so long as you try your best, Nayeni. That’s something my brother’s always tell me. You learn more from what you think of as a failure than you ever do when you succeed. I know you’ll be great at whatever you put your mind to. Just don’t give up, okay?” With that said, she released her hold and lifted her cup from the table. A quick sip was followed by a bit more cookie to keep her relaxed. This was a sensitive topic, one she didn’t want to make light of but also didn’t want her new friend stressing out over.
”No forgiveness is needed. You’re exactly right. Forming bonds, making peace, and building a world that will be better for the generation that comes after ours. That’s what I hope to accomplish before leaving here, and I am beyond happy that I’ve started that with you. That is, if you’re alright with it.” There it was again! Her voicing the idea of being friends with the fascinating woman. Izzie stuffed the rest of her cookie piece in her mouth and looked down into her glass, not caring how so very unladylike the move was. She just needed something to keep the word vomit that wanted to follow her request from escaping while she waited for Nayeni’s response.
Location: Nayeni’s dorm Company: Nayeni
Thoughts: ‘What in the nine hells is wrong with me?!’ OOC:
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