birdwithoutasong | Take this pink ribbon off my eyes

Take this pink ribbon off my eyes

Who: Laisa and Elise
Universe: Original
What: A queen learning to be a person
Warning: None yet

Laisa had spent her whole life training for the role she’d always known only death would spare her from.

And yet, here she was, her country in one piece and the threat of invasion at least put off, and someone else’s problem to deal with if Gresta didn’t honor the terms of treaty, the terms that had had Laisa stepping down.

She wrapped the cloak a little tighter around her, the dull brown of it covering the top of her head. For now she had the cold outside to help excuse her but she’d need to find something better come spring. She couldn’t stand looking in the eyes of her subjects, waiting for them to recognize her now that she wasn’t Queen any longer. She couldn’t decide if it was better if they knew her or if they didn’t.

“Excuse me,” she said, moving to brush by someone in the street.

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Elise, meanwhile, has never had that kind of stability ever. Moving from city to city, job to job, not because of anything she did, usually, just circumstance. But at this point, she's not entirely sure she would understand stability if she saw it. Maybe this is just how she was supposed to live her life, flitting around and becoming juuuust attached enough that she wouldn't hate living somewhere, enough for her to make a few friends but ones that wouldn't miss her too terribly when she moved on.

She's never quite been able to stomach politics (another source of what felt like near constant chaos), but even she knows what their Queen looks like. Out of context is much more difficult, though- she turns when her skin is brushed and she blinks at Laisa, trying to figure out why she looks so very familiar. "Yes?" she asks, politely enough but without the reverence one usually greeted royalty with.

Laisa ducked her head, trying to hide a little more of her from view, hoping that it would be enough. She pulled her cloak a little closer, trying to figure out how not to stand like a queen, how to interact with people. This whole thing was doomed to failure, and Laisa was distinctly aware of the fact that she’d have been better off if she’d fallen dead from some poison.

Or, well, maybe not, but she knew the point of it.

“An inn,” Laisa said, and then, “I’m looking for an inn.”

That doesn't exactly make her less suspicious, but Elise isn't terribly inclined to get involved. If the woman is dangerous (which isn't what she's reading off her body language, but she's been wrong before), and what she's remembering is a wanted poster, then an inn is not going to be the best place for her to conceal herself. Pretty much any other option is almost entirely harmless, and Elise doesn't like going around assuming the worst of everyone.

"Sure," she says with a little smile, trying to be friendly, "There's one just down the street, over there." She gestures, and while it's mostly clear where she's pointing, there's quite a crowd so the inn isn't immediately obvious.

Laisa's face falls on two accounts. "That's..." she starts, trying to find the right words for the sentiment she's trying to express. "I'm very shy." It doesn't sound quite right, even with the way Laisa is holding her head, her tone too clear and too used to projecting.

"There isn't anywhere with less people, is there?" If that sounds suspicious, Laisa really has no idea.

Edited 2017-10-30 11:16 (UTC)

That is incredibly suspicious, and Elise eyes her more warily now. "Well, I mean, it's an inn, so there's gonna be people no matter what. And the busier ones are usually better." Cheap enough for normal people to afford, but not so cheap that it becomes dangerous. "I know of some others, but they're either real pricey or in bad areas." And if she's fine with either of those, then that's just all the more suspicious.

Suspicious? What? Her? The idea is entirely ridiculous, clearly.

An inn in the bad part of town is almost certainly not a good idea, but to the other... "I do have money," Laisa says. Whether it's enough money for what she's going to need to have money for is kind of a mystery, but Laisa might as well be a recently arrived space alien for all she understands of that.

This is not convincing to Elise in the slightest. But... she can show the woman the place, and maybe just let the innkeeper know to keep an eye out. That's probably enough for her due diligence, right? "Alright... I'll show you where it is." And even if the woman said she's 'shy,' Elise is not going to be avoiding crowds.

Laisa smiles like Elise is doing her a large favor. If the woman hasn’t recognized her yet, then she probably won’t, right? The first time they approach a crowd though, Laisa visibly tenses, eyes darting around like there must be another way past.

No, at this point Elise has no idea why the woman seems familiar. Context would help, but this is about the last place she would expect to see the Queen, even if she'd been aware of what was happening. She doesn't really intend to stop, but once she sees the woman getting antsy she'll sigh, and at least go around the crowd.

Unfortunately around the crowd doesn't completely negate the fact that some people will see her, and some of them are more observant than Elise is. One of them spots her, and starts into a bow with a murmur that can't quite be heard, and Laisa mutters, "Shit," before she picks up her pace and starts trying to walk faster.

Bowing is not what Elise expected. She blinks back at the woman as she picks up the pace, matching her easily. "What's wrong?" she asks, looking back at the bowing man with bewilderment. She's not stupid, she knows why people bow. And that niggling of familiarity is back...

"Just keep moving," Laisa snaps out, although she knows logically that this is the point that she should separate from this stranger, should be able to have handled this alone from the beginning.

Elise frowns at her, but honestly that gives her enough context that she thinks she's figured it out. She thought the woman looked familiar. It's pretty only that that inspires her to keep her mouth shut as they move past the crowd, though now her eyes are also trained on the woman next to her.

Laisa takes the silence as agreement, since she's used to people going along with what she wants. She's never had to think about why they go along with it. She relaxes then, when they're a little past the crowd.

Waiting until they're past the crowd, Elise takes in the woman's appearance once more. She's sure of it now. "...What on earth are you doing out here?" she asks. Which... is again, not how one should talk to royalty, but she's very confused right now.

Laisa stares at her like this is a very silly question to be asking. "I'm looking for an inn." Out where? What she needs to get is out of the city, really.

Look she has no idea what to do with any of this. "Well, yes, but I mean... you have a place to sleep, don't you?" She waves back in the direction of the castle.

Laisa looked at, followed the direction and then rapidly shook her head. "Look, I have to be going. Thanks for the help so far and all."

"...Yeah. Alright. You're welcome." Elise is pretty sure she's not wrong- but even though she's confused as heck, she's not going to demand answers from the queen. (Not for now, anyway.)

Better not to linger, Laisa thought, though she was still going to head straight for the inn before. She was more careful now to keep her head ducked, to try to avoid eye contact.

This was all a mess and it shouldn't matter. Who she was shouldn't mean anything to anyone anymore.

Unfortunately for her, no one at the inn seems to be talking about the treaty- word seems to have not disseminated yet, meaning to most people she is still their queen. Her efforts to conceal herself do help somewhat, and the innkeeper doesn't appear to have any interest in who she is.

But Elise hasn't let herself forget the encounter quite so quickly, and is out looking for some information on her own. The queen out with no guards? Something's up...

Laisa hadn't counted on how slowly political gossip spread outside of the castle. It was likely only to get worse when she actually left the city.

Still, she holed up in the room for the night, hopefully that come tomorrow she'd be old news...or be motivated to find a better disguise. Maybe she should dye her hair, or shave it. Except she shouldn't have to hide, dammit.

Elise could at least find out the truth of it pretty easily, once she started listening carefully.

The news does reach the city that night, but the rumors half flown to a fevered excitement mixed with dread by morning. Some resemble the truth, some are already far more elaborated- the queen stepped down to become the enemy's consort for peace, she was actually killed in the night... they will only become more ridiculous as time goes on.

Elise does manage to figure out what's happening, and thankfully she met the woman so she can narrow down what's the actual truth. Come morning, Laisa will get a small package- it contains a more peasant-appropriate attire, including cloak, a pair of scissors, and an address with a little note. Not sure how much help I can give, but I can try. -E

Laisa stared at the package for a long moment, disbelieving it. She dresses in the clothing, because it's a welcome boon, and then she makes her way to the address.

"You know you don't need to do anything for me, right?" she says by way of introducing herself to Elise's space.

...Well, that does kind of make sense. Royalty don't generally have to introduce themselves. "I know," she says, with a sort of half-hearted shrug, "But there's no reason not to, either." If the rumors are true, then Laisa's in this position to avoid war.

"You've already gone out of your way twice for me," Laisa said. "I'm exceedingly grateful for it. Also exceedingly lost by just about everything, as you've seen. If your offer is genuine, I very much appreciate it." She smiled, acknowledging her own helplessness but willing to forge ahead on her own if it came to that.

This is such a weird situation. Elise admittedly doesn't entirely know how to deal with it, but she's not sure she could forgive herself if she didn't at least try. "It is. Are you trying to leave town, or...?" Frankly she doesn't know enough about the situation to know what the woman needs.

Laisa scrubbed at her face with her hand. "I think leaving town would be a good idea. Start over...somewhere else." As not a queen. Yeah, she's totally got this.

Elise nods. Honestly, that is probably what makes the most sense. "How far do you think you'll need to go?" Likely out of the country, but depending on the terms of her departure there might be places that won't be as safe for her.

"There aren't any requirements there. I abdicated, I'm not in exile." There wasn't much precedent for Laisa to rely on in trying to figure this out.

"But I was thinking at least to Valadonia."

Elise nods, thinking. That's not... so far, really. Depending on what kind of means she still has, it's even the distance that could be walked if really needed. There are enough towns on the way that she probably wouldn't end up having to camp.

Then again, the queen probably isn't nearly as used to that as the rest of them.

"It shouldn't be too bad, getting there," is what she winds up saying, "However that ends up being for you. Horses, or you could probably convince a caravan to give you a lift if you don't think the people would cause problems." The people would probably cause problems.

Laisa sighs, and regrets it. She needs to remain strong, even now. And Elise's perception of her feels like it matters.

"A horse, then," she said, managing a smile even though it had to be faked. "At least for the first part."

If Elise's perception of her matters, then Laisa is in trouble, because Elise perceives her as someone who has lost everything and is therefore in way, way over their head. And even though she probably shouldn't, she's inclined to help.

"Ok. You don't have much in the way of traveling clothes or anything either, do you?" Maybe she's assuming too much, but she doesn't think Laisa was carrying much of anything when they met.

It's a pity, because Laisa wanted to impress Elise, or at least the other woman not to be helping her out of a sense of pity. If she had a better sense of that, she'd likely insist on forging ahead on her own.

"I didn't have much time to prepare, but I have coin to buy some." She had at least has the cloak, which isn't very royal, and is rather warm.

Edited 2018-01-07 18:07 (UTC)

It's not pity Elise feels, exactly... it's a weird mix between a sense of duty to her queen and 'well maybe I should not be an asshole.'

"That's good. We should probably do that first, and leave the horse to last so you don't have to worry about boarding it if you get caught up somehow." She might have gold to spare now, but it's not gonna last...

Laisa considered it, and it almost sounded like they had half of a plan. Or that she, with this woman's help, had half of a plan.

"Where does one go, to buy clothes?" If a tailor wasn't going to come to her, and she assumed that wasn't how it would work. "Also, ah, I'm sorry, I-- What name should I call you?"

Oh. Right. Just because Elise knows who she is... "I'm Elise. It's nice to meet you."

But yeah, this might be different for her. "There's some tailors in town, but there are a few who make clothing to approximate sizes if you don't want to wait." It's a new thing, she's still not sure how she feels about it. They never fit quite right, after all.

"Elise," Laisa repeated back with a half smile. "You can call me Laisa." There was no point to anything else, no accuracy to titles, after all. And there were plenty enough children who'd been named after the royal princess -- back when she'd been that -- that there wasn't any reason to think her first name would draw particular attention.

Besides, she'd agreed to give up her throne, not her identity.

"That might be a good idea. The approximate sizes." She knew how long it took to get royal garments tailored, and she didn't have time for that.

...That's really weird, but it makes sense to not call her by anything else right now. She'll just have to get used to it.

"Alright. I can run and get some stuff for you, if you don't want to risk it." Elise figured her out, it wouldn't take much for other people to, now that the news is spreading. "What do you think you'll need?"

"Things I can travel and work in," Laisa said. Whatever working would really mean, but that was a problem she had to put off for a few days. "At least two sets of clothing."

She dug in her purse, pulling out a number of gold coins -- too much for what she was proposing, but she had no idea of that.

Holy crap. Logically it makes sense that she would have so much, and probably that she would expect prices to be higher- up-marking to royalty is probably a thing people do. "Alright..." Elise takes it, even though it feels weird, "It probably won't cost this much. And you're probably going to want to not show people how much money you have on you."

Laisa cocked her head, clearly considering that. Perhaps the mistake was trusting Elise, but seeing as she knew who Laisa was she shouldn't have needed to see the money to have a sense of it.

"Okay," she said, instead of trying to argue that she hadn't.

Should she not have brought it up? Hell if she knows. "Do you want me to grab anything else while I'm out there? I've got a couple books and things you can check out here..." This is very weird still and she doesn't quite know how to deal.

Laisa knew there was a lot she was still figuring out, but right now she felt that very strongly. She didn't know what else she'd really need, but she should be able to buy them later on as she figured it out, right?

"I can't think of anything." She was definitely going to poke around Elise's space if she was left alone here. She needed to get a handle on things.

"Alright. I'll be back as soon as I can." For multiple reasons.

She heads out, picking up the clothing Laisa needed. Her house isn't much- it's pretty much just the entry room with a few soft chairs and some books, and her bedroom. She can't really afford all that much.

Maybe it wasn't very charitable of her, but Laisa did look at what she could. It didn't seem that helpful, and she felt bad going into the bedroom, so instead she studied the books, looking for an insight of some sort from them.

It was at least a distraction from focusing on her own plight.

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