Fantasy AUs

[nerdietalk]

Comments

[fluidgender]

There's only so much paper we can hold onto. Its a lot to manage right now...

[lowres]

… Did he mention anything about returning your daughter? I remember I wanted to ask him if he could… as an act of good faith?

[fluidgender]

[Their face gets even more pained.]

...He was... hopeful. That we could come to terms.

[lowres]

… Your majesty, I am not one to doubt others intentions, but you’re a very bad liar.

[fluidgender]

...Its a weird position for you, Nia. Its not information you need to worry about.

[lowres]

I’m… starting to worry that it is. I’m remembering Small things… it feels as if my stomach is tying into knots.

[ At the same time, a guard is knocking at both Catra and Ranma’s doors. There’s packages…? ]

[fluidgender]

[Ranma's face goes softer. They walk over and touch her shoulder comfortingly.]

...I want you to be safe here. Even those uncomfortable feelings... I want you to be in a place where you can feel what you need to without any fear. Without any responsibility or social pressures. Please, rest as much as you can.

[They move towards the door, answering the guard.] Everything is going to be alright. I promise.

[lowres]

[ It’s the gentleness that triggers it. ]

I made the king angry, didn’t I?

[ The guard is uneasy considering last time a girl came out, but this is hardly big enough for that, so they hand the box to Ranma. ]

[fluidgender]

...I can't say I know the king well enough to answer that. But I don't think there's anything you could do that could be worth getting angry about.

[Downstairs, Catra will open her own box.]

[lowres]

[ Yeah these are heads my dudes. ]

[fluidgender]

[The scream echoes through the building, up to the floor above, making Ranma drop the box in surprise.

The head.

Topples.

Out.

Onto.

The floor.]

[lowres]

[ Nia stares for a long, long moment, before she legally falls back, tripping over herself to get away. ]

H-he—I know him. He was with the queen…?!

[fluidgender]

Th...

Guards! Lock down the palace! T-take our guest to safety at once! And-And Kaori, check on Kaori!

[The guards are a panic and Kaori's running down the hall crying too. But they're gonna do what they can.]

[lowres]

[ There’s a letter in Catra’s box. Explaining why Adora and Fuu haven’t been returned. Explaining what the fae asked of ranma. ]

[fluidgender]

[Catra's clutching it in her hand. If there's one in Ranma's too... they start to panic, rushing to find Kaori and make sure she didn't get one.

But Kaori's gonna focus on grabbing Nia in a panic, making sure she's alright.] N-Nia...!

[lowres]

[ Shes very confused by this. She’s still in a state of shock. ] W-why… is this happening?

[fluidgender]

This is all... a misunderstanding. But we need to get it cleared up.

The two of you need to go to your rooms, right now.

[lowres]

But… but isn’t it better to stay together when bad things happen?

[fluidgender]

[Ranma hesitates but...]

Alright... you and Kaori stay together. There will be guards watching the rooms, but I need to check the building. If... if there's time, I'll send Leslie your way too.

[lowres]

[ Nia is clinging to Kaori so tightly, just… crying. ]

[fluidgender]

[Ranma tries to give kind words to them both but...

They feel unsettled, for more reasons than one. Even beyond the current state of things...

They feel something like Kaori's glare at the back of their head.

She's quick to move Nia to the bedroom to recover]

[lowres]

… I don’t understand… why would they do something like this?!

[missedorientation]

[Kaori tries to ignore the bits of decayed guard that might be outside her room as she leads Nia inside. She's kneeling and looking up and down, checking Nia for any bruises.]

You didn't get injured, right? No one... tried anything?

[lowres]

Why would anyone do anything to me…? I-I’m all right…

[missedorientation]

[She cups Nia's cheeks, looking fierce despite the fact that she's still shaking and choked up.]

Its... its not right. None of this is right...