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Full Version: Journey to the East - Seasil
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There was a swift rapping on his door.  "Your Majesty," the voice of one of his knight-attendents for this journey called out, "The port of Zuanshi is in sight."

"Excellent," Orion called in response, straightening his cape in the mirror stationed in the captain's cabin.  The room was not as magnificent as the room he had stayed in on the Atlas, but it was more than sufficient for their purposes.  Though certainly the business of Seasil's personal summons by the Twin Emperors, a formal meeting of his own with representatives from Fangrong Gu to invite them to be a part of the League of Orn, and of course, the retreival of Nihli were paramount, this journey would serve as the honeymoon for he and his beautiful queen, as well.  A dumb grin crossed his face for a moment before he turned back towards the door.  "Has my Queen already been informed?"

"Yes, my king.  Her Majesty Queen Seasilia awaits you on the upper deck, with Sir Hei and the others," the knight responded.

"Then let us not keep them waiting, my good man."

---



https://youtu.be/T8SaaNlkNW4

As Orion stepped out on to the deck, he was greeted with the splendorous sights he could never have imagined.  The sun had set not long before their arrival.  But, what he had expected to be a quiet, reserved town was quite the opposite.  Festival banners and ribbons lined the lantern-lit streets of the port. Suddenly, wonderful marvels of pyrotechnics launched themselves into the air, bursting into a shower of cracks and technicolor sparkles until they winked out of existence.  

[Image: edecc27899fe468cd416358856bb48b3.jpg]

Orion somehow managed to peel his sight from Seasil as he marveled at the display, his hand quietly and gently slipping around Seasil's back.

"Wow," was all he was able to muster in the awe of the sight.
There'd been a funny feeling as of late. It came in the forms of little things; like a blush, a smile, or a hand under her wings, just grazing her scales. It was something akin to a whisper that makes human hair stand up on edge-- it was perfect. It all came back to him though. It was Orion's fault, and she was ever so grateful.

She hummed in greeting to Orion as she tried her best (and succeeded) not to jump as he touched her waist. The overt touches and shows of affection were... new, yet not unwelcome.

Seasilia leaned into her King's touch and curled a wing around them both, unable to hold back a small, bashful, grin. Still, her gaze was pulled from him as another firework shot off with a pop!

The Dragoness jumped.

Still, the smile remained. "It's beautiful. It seems they've kept this post as lovely as I remember."
Orion's eyes widened in realization.  "Oh, that is correct!  I had nearly forgotten; this city was once the seat of your father's emblem, yes?  I imagine it must be strange to see such transformations, between Ascension, Hest, and now Zuanshi... I suppose your people gave us much to work with over the years, indeed."

As Seasil's wing wrapped around him, he urged the boat to slow, knowing that their respective duties would force them to seperate after her business would take her inland.  He wished to win every moment he could with his wife and queen.

"Hei just informed me that it seems we are in the midst of the new year celebration of the Fangrongese people.  Perhaps Mo- erm, Lilyana, Nihli, and Miss Locksley would enjoy experiencing the festivities before we get to business?  Assuming they have not already partaken... though if I know Nihli, they might be out there enjoying said festivities as we speak!"

He looked down at Seasil, another firework illuminating her face in a wash of bright green.  "If you would wish it, that is," he said, quiet and sweet.
With a smile, Seasil nods both wistfully and sheepishly. "I love what humans have done with them... though, I do miss the space to fly..."

Seeming to mirror Orion's sentiment, and yet continue on as always, Seasil leaned into him and spoke just loud enough for him to hear. "I'm grateful for our home for that..."

Her would-be sweet nothings fell silent on her lips as Orion proposed the idea of seeing the festival for themselves. (What also falls silent is the urge to call Polaris Keep by the name Cair Talavera). Still, she smiled, bright, back up at her beloved.

"Though I'm certain you already know the answer, but, I.. I'd love to."

Drawing close to shore, Seasil retracted her wing from around Orion and promptly replaced it with a searching hand, looking for his.
As Orion's hand met hers, he gave it a gentle squeeze as his fingers interlaced with hers.

---

Their circumstances demanded a rather low profile for the time being, but with the Dawn Festival, a third of the young ones out and about were dressed up in costume.  And so, for the first time since their arrival in Zuanshi nearly a year ago, young Nihli could finally flit about the streets without drawing undue attention - provided she did not start flying, of course.

"Please watch where you are going, Nihli," Rosalyn said in a calm, even tone as the onyx manakete nearly bumped into an young woman wandering the streets, calling out about whatever delicious fried treat she was selling.  With a simple exhange of few coins, Rosa purchased a few of the items and thanked the woman in the Fangrong tongue before bowing and moving onwards.  She handed one of the savory-smelling snacks to the Nihli, who thanked her.

Lilyana took hers and examined it with an inquisitive face.  "What... is it, exactly?"

Rosa shrugged and took a bite.  The hooked treat crunched as she chewed it.  Her eyes widened in surprise.  "Oh.  It appears to be some sort of... breaded shrimp.  It has been a very long time since I have had something like this..." Rosalyn's thoughts briefly returned to her time at the Imperial Palace; seafood had been one of Camellia's favorite treats.  With a fond smile, she took another bite of the delicacy."

"I never had such an opportunity," Lilyana said, squinting at the shrimp.  "The only seafood we ever had in Zodia was usually just fish and whale... and neither suited my fancy.  Far too heavy for my pallate."  She held it close to her face for a moment, examining it closely.  "It smells heavenly, though.  Oh... alright.  I'll give it a try," she said, a childlike smile spreading across the woman's lips.

Rosalyn tilted her head to the side, glad to see her half-sister beginning to lighten up.  She was even beginning to recover from the healing of her eyes - a gift from Alstroemeria.  She was already planning on seeing an old friend if they returned to Lagalla and commissioning a pair of spectacles for Lily.  "Just make sure not to eat the-"

Rosalyn's instructions were interrupted by Nihli, who popped the entire jumbo shrimp into her mouth with a satisfied homp.

"... tail." Rosa trailed off.

Lilyana chuckled.  "Oh, do not worry overmuch, Rosa.  Nihli and Seasil could likely eat a stone and feel perfectly fine.  I imagine it is because they are so tough; isn't that right, Nihli?"

"Yes, it is!" Nihli answered, her mouth still a little full of the shrimp.  She swallowed the rest and patted her stomach, clearly satisfied.  "In fact, we are supposed to digest stones sometimes, to help with digestion and such.  It can be dangerous to do when not in your dr- um," she said, looking around at all of the people.  She stood up on her tippy toes and whispered to the women, "dragon form."  Nihli smiled and looked down at the beautiful black robes Rosalyn had bought her.  They were exceptionally comfortable, and were even tailored with winged laguz in mind, so her wings were comfortable.  "This place is amazing, Miss Rosalyn!  Thank you so much for taking me and Lyra, um, Lily out to see this festival.  It is much better than the one back in Zodia, where everyone was dying."

Rosalyn blinked a few times.  "Yes.  I... imagine it is, my dear."  She cast a glance at Lily, who simply smirked knowingly.  "Well, what should we-" Rosalyn interrupted herself.  She looked around the pier and dock squinted.  Her eyes had always been more acclamated to seeing in the dark, and she had noticed something curious right beyond the horizon.  A Zodian ship, and an official-looking one at that.  "... Lily, Nihli, look there.  Is that...?"

Lilyana stepped forward and looked out, still squinting.  "I... I can't tell.  What is it?  Is it them?  Is it Orion and Seasil?!  Stars, I had not thought they would arrive for a few days now!"

Nihli's eyes sparkled as she ran to Lilyana's side, gripping on to the bottom of her traditional robes.  "Is it really them, Lilyana?"

Rosalyn held up a hand as if to protest.  "Hold one moment, you two.  It could be-"

"I think it is, Nihli!  Let us go down to the docks straightaway!  We do not want to keep them waiting a second longer before we see them again."

Nihli nodded and took Lily's hand.  The two quickly dashed off through the crowd and towards the pier in hopes that it was, in fact, Orion, Seasil, and their attendants.  "C'mon, Miss Rosalyn!  Hurry!" Nihli shouted back to the snow-haired woman.

It was just like when they were all children, with Delia leading the four of them as they skipped through the gardens of Arcanan.

Delia...

Rosa smiled and shook her head, bemused, and set on after the two.
Keeping her wings tight around herself, Seasil held her breath as she let Orion lead the way into the festival crowd. While the Zodian retinue certainly did not blend in with the bustling locals, it was almost difficult to find any semblance of color balance within the glittering celebration. Internally, Seasil wondered if they should have dressed in something more seasonally appropriate than Zodian summer garb... but those were queries for later.

She kept tight to her King's side, as two years of instinct nearly dictated. Pink eyes scanned the crowd, aware of so many smaller motions and the delicate patterns within each native garment. (Though many were, personally, garishly colored... yet, the love and layering that went into each piece was astounding). Ever vigilant, the new Queen acted far too much like a bodyguard in such a sustained crowd.

Still, her dutiful gaze was searching for another reason. She decided that she'd be able to fully enjoy the sights after a very, very, specific point.

Seasil's stomach was aflutter as they walked. In some vain hope, Seasil hoped to catch a glimpse of oily black scales or a wisp of silvery hair amidst the sea of people. Lilyana and Nihli were here, in the city. They were painfully close and she wanted nothing more than to see them again.

Periodically, she craned her head up, attempted to peer over the far-taller crowd to little avail. The first ten checks yielded nothing but a forlorn sigh.

Just as she did so (time eleven) a flash of obsidian slipped through the bottom of the crowd. Light glinted, ever so slightly, off the textured flicker. Her heart jumped into her throat, the color was familiar. As it happened, Seasil tugged lightly on Orion's hand, signalling to slow their pace.

"Orion, a moment, please..."

Once more, with feeling, Seasil scanned the crowd. She'd sworn she caught the glimpse of Nihli's pitch-dark scale color. By the Emblem, she prayed it was her.
"SEASIL!"

"Stars above, my beautiful darlings!"

The cries came in tandem as Lilyana and Nihli burst through the crowd and tore straight through to where Seasil and Orion were standing.  Nihli collided straight into Seasil with the biggest hug she could muster, while Lilyana threw her arms around both and pulled them into her bosom, tears already flowing freely from her healing eyes as she half-braced herself on the two, her knees weakening from excitement and relief at seeing the couple.

"Oh, how I missed you so.  Oh, my sweet, sweet Seasil," she said, pulling the woman who had taken her place as queen as close as possible, unable to contain her emotion.  Nihli beamed, nuzzling her face into Seasil's leg, her now-significantly-shorter-but-still-quite-long deep, deep purple-black hair becoming a tangled mess in the process.

"I missed you, too!" the onyx manakete said.

The sworn knights, who had already drawn steel and approached the two interlopers, were dismissed with a single hand from Orion, after the shock of the much-appreciated ambush had subsided.  "Please, sirs... they are no threat.  Surely you recognize young Miss Nihli, yes?  I do not believe your queen would be too pleased at you threatening someone so important to her, yes?"  The knights saluted and returned to their posts, realizing their mistake and turning their attention to the crowd - which had very much taken interest in the noisy reunion, remarks in their native tongue buzzing about as they watched the endearing scene.

One of the older knights narrowed his eyes upon Lilyana, who was currently in the process of showering Seasil with tears, nearly-incomprehensible compliments, and kisses upon her cheek.  "Sire, is that not...?"

"Lilyana Locksley.  One of the women who was assigned to young Nihli's protection."

"... Lilyana.  The true name of the traitor-queen," the knight said, crossing his arms.

"A coincidence, surely.  After all, Queen-Regent Lyra's true name was Lilyana Lockhaven, not Locksley.  And surely, you recall the assassination attempt that rendered the Queen-Regent permanently blind, yes?  I see no such ailment on this humble maid."  The knight shifted uncomfortably.  "Now, if you are quite finished interrupting my wife's reunion, sir, then I recommend you take your station with the rest of your honorable brethren, and we can put this misunderstanding behind us."

"...Yes, your Majesty," the knight said, shaking his head and returning to his vigilant post, seemingly placated.

By that point, Rosalyn had made her way to the edge of the group and smiled.  "It seems you have grown into your position well, King Andromede.  It is an honor," she said, bowing deeply.

Orion smiled.  "The honor is mine, Miss Locksley.  Thank you for watching over them for us."

"It was my pleasure, young master... but I believe we may want to move this reunion to somewhere more... private," she said quietly, casting a look to the crowd.  "'Tis only a matter of time before they realize that Miss Nihli's wings are not simply a costume..."
Luckily, Seasil has braced herself. She'd had a feeling. Still, it was even a deeper sense of luck that the little Dragoness was far sturdier than she looked. Nihli's force slammed into her, nearly knocking her back on her back foot. Though, her physical position meant little to Seasil.

With two sets of arms around her, Seasil's heart melted. Lilyana's voice was like some sort of music that she'd forgotten. Nihli's grip upon her dress was so, painfully, familiar that Seasil wondered, in one moment, how she'd managed so long without either of them. Her heart swelled... and so did her tears.

Unable to her herself, Seasil gripped into both of them and felt a telltale warmth running down her cheeks. Queen Seasilia, all Seasil in this moment, was certainly not helping the gathering crowd.

"I-I-I've missed you both s-s-so much--" She mustered through thick tears, sniffling along the way. "I d-d-didn't th-think I'd ever..."

Instead of finishing her thought, Seasil drew Lilyana and Nihli closer. She noticed nothing about the near altercation and quiet conversations behind and beyond her current trio. She drank in every compliment, every kiss, every small gesture from Lilyana. By the Emblems, by the Stars, she'd wanted nothing more than their company. Often, when she could, she returned with quips and comments of her own, all of them loving and tear filled.

----

No matter how saccharine their reunion was, it could not remain in the street forever. Soon, following gentle coaxing from both Rosalyn and Orion, the three parted-- still sniffling.

Soon, they walked close together, Seasil holding Nihli's hand and Lilyana left to catch up with her son. Rosalyn, ever humoring, led the way to safer spaces along with the retinue of Zodian guards.

Looking down upon the Dragonette, Seasil smiled, still a little teary eyed. "Nihli, your new haircut looks wonderful. It suits you."
Nihli beamed.  "Do you really think so, Seasil?" she said, releasing her hand just long enough to do a little twirl, her traditional Fangrong robes spinning perfectly around her as her adorable haircut fluffed up and around.  She posed, her hands clasped behind her back, her wings fluttering ever so slightly.  "Miss Rosalyn cut it for me.  She's a wonderful hairstylist. Did you know that she used to cut hair for the Lagallan Empress?  Maybe she could cut your hair too, now that you're a queen," she said, grabbing Seasil's hand again.

"...And perhaps we could... not announce such things to the world, dear Nihli?" Rosalyn said with a slightly-exasperated smile.

"Oh, right.  Um, Seasil, can you keep a secret?"

Rosalyn, Orion, and Lilyana all chuckled, continuing down the festival square towards the domicile that the women had stayed in since coming here.
At Nihli's comments, Seasil drew a hand to her mouth and could not help but laugh. Between the glitter of the port's celebration and the sudden influx of ones she held dear, she couldn't have been more grateful.

Offering an apologetic smile to Rosalyn, she ducked her head.

---

As the interesting entourage made their way to the humble house the Locksleys and Nihli had called for the last year, Seasil looked upon it with a great degree of gratefulness. They'd been safe for the duration of such a harrowing conflict. It was more than the new queen could have ever asked for.

Upon ushering Nihli inside, Seasil found Orion, peeling him away from the Locksley sisters for a fleeting moment.

"Orion? "If... if there's time later..." She drew close to him and spoke quietly, still fidgeting with the idea of him being her husband. It was overwhelming and ever so wonderful. It certainly had to be a dream, "I'd very much love to see the festival with you. I- If you'd like."

She almost departed from him to follow everyone else inside, but she stopped again, turning on her heel. The skirt of her dress followed in suit, swinging with her momentum.

"O-oh! And, uhm, th-thank you for humoring us... crying in the street. The retinue, in hindsight, d-did not seem too fond. It probably was n-not the wisest choice, but-- " She stood upon her tiptoes and planted a feathery kiss upon Orion's freckled cheek. "Still, thank you... love."

With a goofy grin at calling Orion such a word, Seasil moved to go inside before they drew any more attention to themselves.
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