viceofvoices | Of Courts and Courting

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hild,
roleplay

Of Courts and Courting

Traveling beyond enemy borders is no easy feat no matter who you are. It takes some finesse and knowledge and maybe even a generous amount of luck. And if you're trying not to be found? Doubly tricky! But Hild managed. After all, her love life was on the line.

Since their botched wedding, Hild and Krichevskoy went about life much the same way they did before, only now the tensions between their two clans of demons was focused primarily on a third threat: the monsters and lesser demons who had risen up much earlier than anticipated thanks to Hild's secret meddling. And while that meant Hild and Krichevskoy no longer had to get married, it seemed she had less and less time to even spend time with him out of her own free will. War councils and spell preparations, magic training and scouting missions...really, all she wanted to do was sneak away and spend time with...

Pausing under a tree in the forest lining this border of Krichevskoy's kingdom, the cloaked Hild paused and grinned to herself, swept up in the memory of their last encounter. He'd actually kissed her back, which was more than he'd ever done before. Hands to her cheeks, one of the most powerful demons in the universe squirmed in bashfulness as she recalled the event, oblivious to her surroundings.

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Krichevskoy crossed his arms and looked away in a huff. "I refuse. I will pull the hood down and remain silent, but I will not cut my hair here." A sudden thought came to him, and with a note of triumph he added "And who is to say you would be able to to begin with?"

"Ah, look who found his stubborn streak despite his memory loss!" Hild stalked towards him, more than a little huffy herself. "You foolish man, there is no town or kingdom in our worlds that will not recognize us, especially together. They have come to expect it!"

She smirked, eyes narrowed. "You will learn, again, that I will always find a way to get what I want...!" Her hand shot out to grasp his hair.

Krichevskoy hopped backwards out of the way, cloak nearly phasing through him in his attempt to dodge. "And this is something you will not! I, I am putting my foot down about this!"

As it turned out, Krichevskoy's sheer will not to have his hair touched made his body react accordingly -- even countering his dodge, Hild's hands went through his hair completely. Frustrated, she stopped and pouted. "Ahh~! Fine! I'll disguise myself then! Jeez!"

She stomped her foot in a tantrum and immediately erupted into smoke. Standing where the full grown Hild had been standing, she was now in the form of a young girl. Her clothing had been altered as well, made to fit her tiny form without issue. Still, she crossed her arms and glared up at him, her voice still the low, elegant and haughty voice of the full-sized version.

"Are you happy now?"

"Yes, that is a much better plan," he replied, pleased with his victory. It may have made things a bit strange, and definitely a little more awkward, but he had managed to get his way in the end.

"I doubt we will run into any trouble. This is a nearly perfect disguise between the two of us, after all."

Shoulders slumped, she held out her hand to lean against a tree dramatically. "Ugh, how can you be so naive and still lead an army of demons...?" She trudged ahead once more, still pouting. "I know you don't remember anything, but this was an extremely well calculated attack. One of your kind, working with..." Hild's brow furrowed. "...with one of my kind, very likely. Since killing you outright has clearly not been their agenda, they're sure to be tracking us and watching us react to this curse they've placed upon you."

"So that is what happened?" he asked, chastising himself for not thinking to ask about it. He knew there had been an injury and some sort of curse, but with this state being the only one he could remember, he supposed he didn't see it quite the same as Hild.

Krichevskoy put a hand to his chin in thought. "What makes you believe it was not an assassination attempt?"

"There are a hundred curses better suited towards assassination than -- well, whatever this is," she replied at once, absently swatting away a low hanging branch. By now they were miles from any decent pathway, and with the dense foliage, their progress was slow. She briefly considered blowing a hole through everything with a nice, simple fireball, but that would of course make it that much easier to find them.

"No, this is something else...Killing you would be too kind. Whoever is pulling the strings doesn't just want us to suffer: I fear they want to unravel the very political structure of our people."

"You believe they will blame you for this?" he asked cautiously. She had said before that his own subjects would probably try to usurp him while he was in this state, and he wondered if he would be able to fight or if any weapon he used would instead fall through his fingers.

"Perhaps two factions seeking to reign themselves?"

"Even if painting me guilty was not the intent, it's sure to be a byproduct," Hild said after a moment. "Our people have been at each others throats for generations. It was only recently that we, working in tandem along with our councils and senates, struck a bargain of sorts towards peace." She left out her plan of undermining said bargain for her own personal needs, of course. He'd remember that again soon enough, surely.

"It may very well be that there are those who prefer the battles of the past, driving them to this." She put her hand to her chin, her childish face all the more cute for her very serious expression. "I can't shake the feeling that there's more to it than that, however."

Krichevskoy sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. "It always seems as though there is more to these sorts of things." While his life was shaping up to have been very interesting, it seemed as though it came with an equal amount of complication. The king's life was not as wonderful as it had sounded.

"Perhaps it would be best to get to the bottom of that first?" he suggested. "But... if I am supposed to be in my kingdom... Ah, but I have no idea how to be a king."

She finally smiled again. "Yes, well...one thing at a time. We must bring you back to your full health. Ideally, your memories should return once we eradicate the curse, but if they don't, I shall coach you back to full form."

She hopped easily over a log, pigtails flying. "I believe your kingdom is used to your absences, so we have time to investigate and prepare as we will. But you need not worry about your ability to be king." Hild smiled at him over her shoulder.

"One could say you are a natural."

There was a brief look of surprise on Krichevskoy's face that he quickly masked with a proud grin that probably looked quite a bit surer than he felt. "If that is the case then I shall consider my lack of memories no more than a minor nuisance. With our skill, we shall easily guide each of our clans back to the path where they belong."

That... sounded kingly enough, right?

"By the way, who is this person we are going to see?"

Hild pushed back some branches to reveal a small village beyond the forest's edge. With a sigh, she looked back at Krichevskoy.

"...my ex." Then she pushed ahead out into the light.

Krichevskoy mouthed a silent "Oh," and followed after her to the edge of the forest, where he hesitated. It was just a little sunshine. It couldn't be that bad, could it? As long as he kept his eyes to the grass it wouldn't seem too bright.

He cautioned a glance--more of a squint--at Hild. She seemed fine... Perhaps this aversion was just part of the curse?

She saw his pained expression and walked back to take his hand. "Keep your hood up and your head down, eyes closed. Act enfeebled and I can pass you off as my sickly brother, perhaps." Hild carefully squeezed his shadowy hand. "I'm with you, Krichevskoy. Don't worry."

Walking into the village, demon peasantry along with other creatures and monsters milled about, engaging in their daily lives. They did grant them an odd look now and again, but it was simple blatant curiosity and hardly something to be alarmed about, as long as Krichevskoy kept his mouth shut and his face hidden.

Though he knew it was necessary, moving about the village in this way was also incredibly frustrating. He wanted to look around and ask about the things he saw, but all he could see was the dirt beneath him and the occasional glimpse of people's shoes, and asking anything was out of the question. If he could, maybe he would look around after night fell. It would be harder to see him in the dark anyway, wouldn't it?

Still, he tried to take in what he could, his head turning a fraction to the side each way in an attempt to catch a glimpse of people or buildings before he had to stare at the earth again.

"Here we are..." she said softly, stopping in front of a worn but rather large building on the other end of the town. "Remember, you're sickly." Suddenly her eyes welled up with tears and she sniffled pitifully as she opened the door, pulling him inside.

"E-Excuse me..." Hild called out, her voice high and wavering, like a distressed child. "Do you have any r-rooms, sir? I can pay..." She then began a lengthy conversation with the owner of the inn, who was less taken in by pity for a poor girl as he was worried about how contagious Krichevskoy might be.

As Hild was talking, someone sitting at the bar made his way toward them. He was cloaked as well, but an establishment like this was used to all manner of Shadowy Mysterious Figures. As long as they paid, it was no business of the owner. However, this particular patron was not the type to wait for approach.

Hild broke off at the newcomer's approach, unusually silent and quite tense as she watched him lean towards the innkeeper and murmur something in the demon's ear. The innkeeper blanched and quickly nodded, waving the whole group away.

"It appears you've been given a room," the newcomer said quietly, his voice rich and melodious, though gentle. "I'll show you the way."

Krichevskoy had to admit... That had been impressive. She was very skilled in the art of deception, wasn't she? He wasn't sure if he much appreciated the idea that he was horribly contagious and/or diseased, however, and he had to wonder if she had chosen to describe him that way as payback for not letting her cut his hair.

He turned his head to the side, trying to get a better look at the other cloaked figure. Who was this? Krichevskoy looked back over at Hild, silently questioning.

Hild merely shook her head, jaw tight. They followed the other cloaked figure upstairs and down a hall. She didn't speak until they were inside the room in question, the door shut behind them. "Aaaahhh~" she finally sighed, bristling at their new company. "You're already here?" She seemed embarrassed and agitated, moving to draw the curtains over the window. "You know I hate it when you see me in this form."

The figure laughed warmly and pulled his hood back. He was tall and definitely handsome, with youthful features in direct contrast to the depth of age and wisdom in his clear blue eyes. With blue emblems on his forehead and cheeks and a gentle, serene smile, he hardly seemed like a demon. His brunette hair was long and pulled back in a ponytail at his nape and his clothes were like that of a cleric or priest.

"Isn't it fine? I know you make certain to look as cute in this form as possible," he said, taking her hand and squeezing it with easy familiarity. Hild looked away, somewhat flushed as she grumbled under her breath, but the man seemed used to her behavior. Instead, he turned his gaze to Krichevskoy.

"Ah..." he murmured, taking in the sight of the black skin. "You, then, are Krichevskoy?"

Krichevskoy frowned as he watched the two interact. The man seemed to be amiable enough--he hadn't said or done anything wrong--but the way he and Hild interacted annoyed him a little. But, if this was Hild's ex, he would be as cordial as possible.

He looked up when addressed and nodded. "Yes. I assume you are the one we were supposed to meet?"

"Ah ha ha, not exactly," he laughed, looking a bit sheepish. Hild muttered something unkind under her breath once more and hopped up onto the bed, crossing her legs as she perched on the edge. "I suppose you could call this an act of divine providence?" he continued, slanting an amused glance at Hild.

"Yes, he is who I wanted to find," Hild chimed up from the bed. "Krichevskoy, this is Dagr...a god from the divine realm." Dagr, for his part, simply smiled beatifically at them both.

"I assume you're here to investigate the powerful signature emanating from this curse," she continued, eyeing the god with her flat eyes. "Which works out to my favor, as I was very much hoping you'd do your whole light magic thing and heal him."

Krichevskoy's mind, meanwhile, seemed to be on a completely different subject. His frown became more contemplative as he looked between Hild and Dagr. If Dagr was from the divine realm and a god, and he had blue markings... And Hild was not from there and had red... And if he was generally from the same place as Hild...

"Er... Am I a demon?" he asked, managing to accidentally point out a good half of the problem.

Both Hild and Dagr stared blankly at Krichevskoy before glancing at each other...then back at him. Dagr turned and covered his mouth to stifle a quiet chuckle while Hild's eyebrow twitched. "Yes! Of course you are! How could you only just ask that now!?" she snapped, hand to her forehead.

"It did not seem important at the time!" Krichevskoy shot back quickly, turning his head to try and hide his embarrassed expression. "I had simply considered myself a citizen of whatever world this happened to be."

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