Post by Cecelia Riddel on Dec 29, 2019 21:39:26 GMT -8
The cool air of Cabal's wide lands was a drastic change compared to the east coast. Between the changes that qi and the war brought to the land, there was a nip to the air that didn't feel the same. No salt air, no sunshine even if there was snow in the mountains. Everyone was more adaptive to the hodgepodge of cultures that came with trainees and soldiers from all over the territories.
Her gifts had been sent home, but they could easily be a reminder of how she had yet to come back home either cured or in control of her abilities enough to hide them away. Not to mention the work she had to do at Cabal.
Curled up in one of the chairs in the Blue Team commons, she looked over the letter she had finished scribing, smiling at the curved, looping letters of her signature. She hadn't thought to send a holiday greeting to Lady Angelonia, but more than that, she truly did want to befriend the girl. It had been asked as a favor, and she remembered being polite but distant when first meeting her. A princess of the big four, and a qi user. But one who seemed genuine and heartfelt. It was a great display for playing the game, for certain.
Content to let the letter be sent off with the normal post, the noblewoman found herself with a lack of anything to do. The barracks were sparse compared to before, including some of those she spoke with when she came out. More surprising to her was how many were still there, not only unable to leave due to being on duty, but others who had no home to go back to for whatever reason.
“This won't do,” she murmured, looking around the commons with a small frown. “Not at all.” Shaking her head, she headed down to the mess hall, finding a few staff members who were also present. The food they were working on seemed like a poor joke of a Christmas dinner. Cold sliced turkey with blonde gravy that was too thick to do the job properly. Green beans and a bit of stuffing that were a color so questionable that she had stared in horror before taking charge and emanding that the whole dish be scrapped or left for the beasts in the kennels that were on campus. If they would even eat them.
Rounding up the staff she could find and a few young men that were new recruits, she divided up the tasks like she was born for it. The heartache and dismay that dragged at her bones eased away like ice melting before a fire. She felt more like herself than she had since she had seen the horrific explosion at the gala. The boys brought in pine boughs, finding it was better to listen to Cecelia as she dictated where to put them, rather than tease her for not doing the work herself. The kitchen had gained volunteers as they waited for the two kitchen aids to return with the turkeys that they were sent to bring. She even sent Zola to go with them – for the protection of the money she spent as well as the people bringing it back.
It was a hustle and bustle, warmth in the chatter and the room as Cecelia deigned herself the ruler of the mini roost. She retrieved a pair of gloves, staying out of touching range in the corner where she could keep an eye on everything. Those with questions were able to approach her for direction, but the stack of pine boughs created a barrier that they quickly learned meant not to cross, regardless if her Royal Guard was present or not.
Humming to herself, she wove the boughs together, a sense of satisfaction filling her heart as she looked up with a disapproving look at one of the younger trainees who thought it would be funny to tease the decorations and sneak some food. Thankfully, the kitchen staff had a fire tamer or some other similar qi to help cook the new food so that it would be fully done without burning the place down. The child slipped away with candy in hand, a gap-tooth mischievous grin on their face as they ducked out of the room.
Then it occurred to her. The child was one of those that did not have a home to go back to. Her hands froze in the middle of weaving the garland, staring at the open door for a moment before gently setting her work aside, the sap staying on the table and not her clothes. Peeling the thick gloves the landscapers used, she set them beside the bough and slipped out the door as the chatter and laughter filled the door.
“Hello?” she called softly, peering down the hall for any sign of doors amiss or ajar. Silence filled the air as she made her way down the halls, the sounds of joy and festivities fading as she tried some of the door to see if they opened or if she could hear a response.
Silence. Then, as she twisted a door knob, the sound of scuffling and something falling, crashing to the floor. She squeaked in surprise, a bubble escaping without her having time to hide it as it roe from the celing.
“Are you alright?” There were several seconds of silence before a strange shuffling could be heard. When the door opened, Celia caught sight of desks that had been shaped into a fort that had fallen sideways, blood seeping from the young boy's temple where he had a knot and bruise forming from the fall.
“Y-yeah.” He ducked around her, and Cecelia recoiled, immediately looking to see if the boy had spread dirt or blood on her skirts and thankfully finding they were only ruffled. Looking up, she saw the gangly limbs disappear aroudn the corner where the kitchen was and sighed, straightening her shoulders as she floated back into the room. Not surprising, the boy was back at the kitchen, getting an ear full of scolding at the mess he'd made of himself.
“Try not to go too hard on him,” she murmured to one of the nearby cooks. “It's Christmas, after all.” Ignoring the strange look she got, Cecelia stopped as the boy shouted, “Hey, you!”
“Yes?” Her brow twitched as she turned around.
“Can you do that again? That bubble thing?” He leaned forward, trying to duck around the wet cloth that was being applied to his bleeding temple.
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” she huffed going back to her preferred spot and putting the gloves back on. Ignored for a while, it was easy to continue braiding the pine and dictating the positions as the taller men hoisted them. It gave her time to calm down and eventually enter the kitchen, free of worker's garb and feeling more like herself as she looked over the food and found it to her satisfaction. It almost felt like home.
Perhaps that's all she could really ask for.
Her gifts had been sent home, but they could easily be a reminder of how she had yet to come back home either cured or in control of her abilities enough to hide them away. Not to mention the work she had to do at Cabal.
Curled up in one of the chairs in the Blue Team commons, she looked over the letter she had finished scribing, smiling at the curved, looping letters of her signature. She hadn't thought to send a holiday greeting to Lady Angelonia, but more than that, she truly did want to befriend the girl. It had been asked as a favor, and she remembered being polite but distant when first meeting her. A princess of the big four, and a qi user. But one who seemed genuine and heartfelt. It was a great display for playing the game, for certain.
Content to let the letter be sent off with the normal post, the noblewoman found herself with a lack of anything to do. The barracks were sparse compared to before, including some of those she spoke with when she came out. More surprising to her was how many were still there, not only unable to leave due to being on duty, but others who had no home to go back to for whatever reason.
“This won't do,” she murmured, looking around the commons with a small frown. “Not at all.” Shaking her head, she headed down to the mess hall, finding a few staff members who were also present. The food they were working on seemed like a poor joke of a Christmas dinner. Cold sliced turkey with blonde gravy that was too thick to do the job properly. Green beans and a bit of stuffing that were a color so questionable that she had stared in horror before taking charge and emanding that the whole dish be scrapped or left for the beasts in the kennels that were on campus. If they would even eat them.
Rounding up the staff she could find and a few young men that were new recruits, she divided up the tasks like she was born for it. The heartache and dismay that dragged at her bones eased away like ice melting before a fire. She felt more like herself than she had since she had seen the horrific explosion at the gala. The boys brought in pine boughs, finding it was better to listen to Cecelia as she dictated where to put them, rather than tease her for not doing the work herself. The kitchen had gained volunteers as they waited for the two kitchen aids to return with the turkeys that they were sent to bring. She even sent Zola to go with them – for the protection of the money she spent as well as the people bringing it back.
It was a hustle and bustle, warmth in the chatter and the room as Cecelia deigned herself the ruler of the mini roost. She retrieved a pair of gloves, staying out of touching range in the corner where she could keep an eye on everything. Those with questions were able to approach her for direction, but the stack of pine boughs created a barrier that they quickly learned meant not to cross, regardless if her Royal Guard was present or not.
Humming to herself, she wove the boughs together, a sense of satisfaction filling her heart as she looked up with a disapproving look at one of the younger trainees who thought it would be funny to tease the decorations and sneak some food. Thankfully, the kitchen staff had a fire tamer or some other similar qi to help cook the new food so that it would be fully done without burning the place down. The child slipped away with candy in hand, a gap-tooth mischievous grin on their face as they ducked out of the room.
Then it occurred to her. The child was one of those that did not have a home to go back to. Her hands froze in the middle of weaving the garland, staring at the open door for a moment before gently setting her work aside, the sap staying on the table and not her clothes. Peeling the thick gloves the landscapers used, she set them beside the bough and slipped out the door as the chatter and laughter filled the door.
“Hello?” she called softly, peering down the hall for any sign of doors amiss or ajar. Silence filled the air as she made her way down the halls, the sounds of joy and festivities fading as she tried some of the door to see if they opened or if she could hear a response.
Silence. Then, as she twisted a door knob, the sound of scuffling and something falling, crashing to the floor. She squeaked in surprise, a bubble escaping without her having time to hide it as it roe from the celing.
“Are you alright?” There were several seconds of silence before a strange shuffling could be heard. When the door opened, Celia caught sight of desks that had been shaped into a fort that had fallen sideways, blood seeping from the young boy's temple where he had a knot and bruise forming from the fall.
“Y-yeah.” He ducked around her, and Cecelia recoiled, immediately looking to see if the boy had spread dirt or blood on her skirts and thankfully finding they were only ruffled. Looking up, she saw the gangly limbs disappear aroudn the corner where the kitchen was and sighed, straightening her shoulders as she floated back into the room. Not surprising, the boy was back at the kitchen, getting an ear full of scolding at the mess he'd made of himself.
“Try not to go too hard on him,” she murmured to one of the nearby cooks. “It's Christmas, after all.” Ignoring the strange look she got, Cecelia stopped as the boy shouted, “Hey, you!”
“Yes?” Her brow twitched as she turned around.
“Can you do that again? That bubble thing?” He leaned forward, trying to duck around the wet cloth that was being applied to his bleeding temple.
“I have no idea what you're talking about,” she huffed going back to her preferred spot and putting the gloves back on. Ignored for a while, it was easy to continue braiding the pine and dictating the positions as the taller men hoisted them. It gave her time to calm down and eventually enter the kitchen, free of worker's garb and feeling more like herself as she looked over the food and found it to her satisfaction. It almost felt like home.
Perhaps that's all she could really ask for.
_____________________
Zero Ability: Bubble Betrayal - Every time Cecelia hiccups, burps, or farts, her body lets out bubbles of various sizes.
Qi Use: 1/14
Qi Use: 1/14
Assignment of Christmas: Write an event where your character either saves the holidays, or ruins it. Whatever definition that is for you. 250 word minimum. 1,000 word maximum. Tag @kek in the discord server when ready for judging. Must be done before 01/03/01
Word Count 1197
