026 ☺ Voice☺ Now put your hand up, if you wouldn't man up if there was a fight here

[moreincommon]

[This time Mark is feeling fit enough to post with video, and he assumes people are far less likely to be alarmed with the bruises now on his face than the swellings that used to be there. Still, he is not quite up to his old self and chooses voice again, if only because it's easier to pretend that way.]

Since there's still interest in learning dances and we could probably all use some levity right now, how does Sunday evening sound for everyone? If it's possible to reserve space in the gym I think that would be the best meeting place. If it isn't, we can probably take a classroom in the learning annex. My thoughts are that we'll start with some simple ballroom dances from 20th century Earth, but anything goes! Everyone's welcome to come.

[Private, Bush]
Welcome back! I'm sorry to greet you this way, but I had a note about your inmate.

[Private, Sylvanas]
We need to talk.

Comments

[Private]

[forsaken_queen]

Yes. We do.

[Private]

[moreincommon]

Can we talk peacefully or should we keep our distance?

[Private]

[forsaken_queen]

I'm not physically well enough to do you any real harm. [Yet.] And what I have to say should be in person.

[Private]

[moreincommon]

All right. How does the CES sound?

[Private]

[forsaken_queen]

Ten minutes.

[Private -> Spam]

[moreincommon]

I'll be on the deck.

[He's there early, wringing his hands and hoping this goes as well as possible. And if it doesn't (oh God he hopes it doesn't), he's wearing his ladies' ankle holster. Just in case.]

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

[She walks. Her pace is purposefully unhurried. She's not fully well yet, but she was eating, if a bit picky about it, because the Emperor had asked her to. She needed her strength anyway if she was going to be stuck in this body.

Speaking of, she was wearing clothes borrowed from Beatrix. The fit was a little all over the place. A bit tight in the bust, a bit long in the cuffs, but the clothes weren't falling off her at least. She stopped a few feet from her Warden, crossing her arms.]

Well.

[ Spam]

[moreincommon]

[Mark hears her footfalls -- a sound he'd normally never be able to pick up -- when Sylvanas approaches. He turns to greet her, with a nod instead of a hearty hello this time. Neither of them are quite themselves yet.]

We've got a lot to go over. [He swipes his warden item, a small notebook with jotted details on her, in front of the CES doors.] Would you like to go in first, or should I? [Mark's never sure what Sylvanas would be most comfortable (or least uncomfortable) with, familiarity or novelty.]

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

[She doesn't give him a verbal answer, just unfolds her arms and pushes open the door to the CES. It's not about familiarity or novelty. It's about power. If it's an enviroment of her choosing, she has an advantage, she has some semblance of control. Mark has taken enough of her power away. She wouldn't let him choose their meeting ground.

The world they walk into is bright, cheery and a little bit fantastical. The trees have pink, purple, and golden leaves. The grass is green and lush with wildflowers rioting through it wherever they choose. And there is the strangest sense that somewhere, faint music is playing. This is just one of the reasons that the Eversong Forest was rather aptly named.]

[ Spam]

[moreincommon]

[That's fine; to him it was giving her a choice, and she made it. The consequences of it don't bother him at this point. In fact the location is actually quite stunning, and Mark feels a bit like he's just walked into a Disney musical. It cheers him up immensely.]

Is this where you lived?

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

This used to be my homeland. [It's a veiled answer. Not a no, but not quite a whole yes. Where she lived was to the south in what was now the Ghostlands.]

[ Spam]

[moreincommon]

Well, it's beautiful! Wow, the woods where I grew up are nothing like this. [This forest is less likely to house wild boarmen, after all.] Is there a direction we should be going? [Letting her lead might be dangerous, but he doesn't intend to follow if she goes too far.]

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

South and East. [She starts walking in that direction. They were somewhere in the vicinity of Fairbreeze Village. If they moved more east than south, they'd run right into the Dead Scar. But it would be a ways yet.]

You wanted to talk. I'm waiting.

[ Spam]

[moreincommon]

Well, lead on.

Do you understand why I'm not happy with you? It's not just the attack.

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

[What do you think she's doing, Warden? Certainly not waiting on you. ]

Before we go any farther with this conversation, allow me to remind you that I am a few centuries your senior. So stop attempting to talk to me like some disapproving parent,and just say what you have to say.

[ Spam]

[moreincommon]

I just want to make sure we're on the same page, because we haven't been up until now.

You can't just violate someone's privacy like that. I know you were doing it for your friend, but if someone broke into your cabin I'm sure you'd be furious. It's not a boundary that should be crossed.

[ Spam]

[forsaken_queen]

[The anger, rage is immediate. She wants to tear him to little unidentifiable pieces there and then, but she curls her hands into fists and restrains herself. She was here because she wanted something, and the only way to get it was to control herself.

That didn't stop her from growling at him though.]

Boundaries! You of all people, have the audacity to talk to me about violating boundaries?