open | text

[beariot]

Name: Ursula Callistis
Date: Octeuril 3
Format: text

Hello, everyone! I'll try to make this brief, as typing on these things can be a bit of a pain. [ but god help her if she did anything that put her face out there to more people than she was comfortable with... ]

My name is Ursula Callistis, and back home I was a teacher. Now as I'm sure you've all noticed, or at least heard, refugees from Dorchacht have come into this city. Some of you have been volunteering to build their shelters, but I had noticed there was an un-assigned building, and I've sort of taken it over as a space for them, but not as living space.

You see, a lot of the refugees are kids. Orphans, even. And I am going to convert that space into a classroom. The Coven has already agreed to help me with supplies and costs, so there's no worries there, but while I am an experienced educator, I'm still only one woman.

So! That's where you all come in! I'm looking for some volunteers to help take up some of the class schedule. Just let me know if you have any experience, what basic subjects you're willing to teach, and we can go from there!

And, just so it's clear, I appreciate any help at all, even if you're not taking on a class subject. These kids are really depending on us. So. Thank you.

Comments

[beariot]

Monika... [ A gentle squeeze, a lowering of her voice. ]

You're in love with her.

[loadme]

[The words echoed endlessly in Monika's head, her mind replaying that one sentence over and over again.]

I... love her?

[Her free hand reached up, clutching at her chest.]

That's...

[She was at a lost for words. And honestly? Afraid. The last time she loved someone didn't exactly go to well, and Monika's been having a hard enough time "moving past" her old self.

But even so, wasn't Ursula right?]

I'm sorry, I just... I don't really know what to say.

[beariot]

[ ... Oh no. Had she said too much? Was Monika not ready to confront the idea just yet, and just wanted to keep basking in the giddiness and warmth? Had she messed up?! ]

W-well, I mean. I could be wrong. I just... well... It's something I've felt before, and that's what it was for me. D-don't go thinking that's what it has to be if you're not comfortable with that!

[loadme]

[Her thoughts continued to race, with Monika remaining quiet for a while longer.]

I...

I think about her all the time. The feeling I get when I come back to my room and she's already there. Or what it's like when I'm by myself and she finally makes it back.

The smile on my face just by being around her. How terrified I get over the idea of not having her in my life.

And the way my heart beats faster just when I look into her eyes.

...

T-That's love, isn't it?

[beariot]

[ Ursula took in a deep breath, giving Monika's hand a squeeze and gently sighing. ]

It... it might be, Monika. It might be.

But remember, just because you have these feelings, and they're valid, doesn't mean there's any pressure to act on them. Take your time...

[loadme]

I...

[Love.

The word repeats itself in her head over, and over, and over.

And over.]

I'm scared.

Is it really okay to not do anything?

[She held on tighter to Ursula's hand, leaning against her.]

[beariot]

I didn't say to not do anything... I meant for you to set your own pace. [ Another squeeze of Monika's hand, her other reaching to gently pet at her hair, projecting that same calm she used for her bonded out to her, even if she knew it wouldn't be as impactful. ]

You shouldn't ignore how you feel, but you shouldn't rush into anything you're not ready for, either.

[loadme]

Right, right.

[Monika squeezed back as she took a few deep breaths to settle down, her heartbeat slowing little by little.

This wasn't at all like before. It was completely different in just about every way.

It was okay if she needed to take her time and sort out what this meant.

It was okay, and she kept telling herself that.]

Can I ask you something?

[She leaned her head on Ursula's shoulder.]

How did you and Fang... um, become a couple?

[beariot]

[ Ursula couldn't help a chuckle, as she thought about it. ]

Would you believe... we fell out of a hammock?

[loadme]

[She just... lifted her shoulder and looked right at Ursula.

Incredulous was a good way to describe it.]

Wait, was that really it?

[beariot]

W-well... It wasn't all of it but it was definitely a significant part of it...

Ursula let off a more anxious laugh, realizing she should probably tell the whole story.

We were already bonded by that point. Fang and I came to an understanding that we needed one another, in that sense, well before we'd started to see anything... deeper about our connection. I even dismissed a lot of the warmth from her I felt through the Bond as something she'd feel for anyone she was close to. I didn't really think of myself as particularly special to anyone...

A-anyways, it was at the Lùnasa festival. Fang had set up a hammock really high up, hanging from one of the buildings. I'd come up to check in on her and she invited me to sit in it with her and people watch. We got to talking, she told me about her favorite flower; the sunpetal iris. I said she reminded me of them, she said I was charming her... Which I definitely wasn't. Not on purpose, anyways.

I was so embarrassed, but Fang was... gentle with me about it. She always is. She reminded me a lot of someone from home I cared for deeply, and those similarities became more and more difficult to ignore. But she as so many of her own unique qualities, too, and all of it combined... I was just...

Smitten.

[ She was just going to skip over the bit where it was probably deeply problematic and unhealthy that she and Fang seemed to project onto each other someone else entirely at times, but they'd spent some time growing to accept and maybe grow a bit bast that. Monika didn't need to know. ]

One thing lead to another and... My hair changed color, startled her, and we both toppled out of the hammock. It was about a 15 foot drop.

[loadme]

[She listened to every word, eager to learn more about not only her dearest friend, but also her mentor. The longer it went, the more parallels she drew. Not feeling particularly special, the need that two of them had for each other...

It had all happened during that same time frame, too. And she also liked the idea of learning more about Natsuru. She had been so focused on having her in the present that she really... hadn't taken the time to really ask about her background.

Her attention continued to be focused on Ursula's story, taking in every word and development. But there was one bit of information that especially stood out to her.

One piece, more than anything else she'd just heard.

She lifted her head off of Ursula's shoulders and asked:]

Your hair changes colors...? I had no idea.

[beariot]

[ Ah.




She had mentioned that, hadn't she? ]


W-well... it was a magic thing, you know?

[ Smooth. ]

[loadme]

Oh, really?

[Monika doesn't think too much of it. She ends up taking Ursula's words at face value and leaves it at that.]

Do you think that could happen to me?

[She grabs and looks at a couple of strands from her long ponytail.]

Or is that something that just happens in your world?

[beariot]

I think that all depends on how much you're willing to experiment with glamour magic. [ The save wasn't made yet. But she didn't want to lie to Monika, either. The most she could do was just... omit context or clarity. Which still felt just as bad.

But she wasn't... she wasn't ready for a conversation about her true self just yet. ]

My curiosities lie in all sorts of places, so I tend to experiment with a wide variety of magics.

[loadme]

That makes sense, you've been working with magic for a long time, right?

[She thinks nothing else of it, and goes back to leaning her head on Ursula's shoulder.]

Maybe one of these days, you could tutor me a bit? I've love to get better, and to spend more time with you.

[beariot]

[ Safe! ]

I'd be glad to, Monika. I love any opportunity to teach.