[ Just as Juniper had done for him, Declan listens with rapt attention, taking in every detail, every minute shift of Juniper’s expression as she spins her tale. He beams at her as she tells him of her little group of friends – an adventuring party of her own – and the wonders of the carnival. And then it all takes a turn, and something sinister is revealed to lurk beneath the surface.
A coven of hags. Perhaps not too unlike the coven of hags that stole her parents away from her. It almost seems meant to be.
Maybe her own adventure hasn’t been as dreadfully long as his own, and the feywild is certainly a far different beast from dark and dreary Barovia, but it’s not without its dangers. Even in so short a time, he can tell Juniper has grown too. ]
Well then, we’re going to have to make sure you’re well prepared for that match by the time we leave this place!
[ You know, whenever that might be. ]
It seems you’re really stepping into your own, too, Junebug.
[ Not too unlike at all, although Juniper hasn't spoken of what she knows of the hags in great detail, least of all that they'd just discovered that Skabatha has indeed been stealing children away... A tale, perhaps, for a different night-slash-early-morning.
For now, she's allowing herself the grace to hear Declan's words in earnest, despite how part of her truly feels unprepared for the battles ahead. Facing a coven does feel like it was meant to be. But at the same time, she's... Well, she's afraid of hags. ]
Ah.. You really think so, Uncle Dee? I feel like my adventure's just beginning, but you know, I... Don't regret running away at all. Even having just done that, and managing to get this far on my own... It feels really nice!
[ Declan, too, often feels unprepared for what lies ahead. But when the moment comes, he somehow manages to rise to the occasion, bolstered by his friends. No doubt, Juniper will do the same. He believes that she has it in her. ]
I’m proud of you, sweetheart. You’re going to do amazing things.
[ Of course Juniper has heard those words many times growing up - I'm proud of you. Perhaps almost too many times, that the words began to feel diluted over time, given almost by default simply for being, but this, from Declan, is...
She worked for it. The hardest, perhaps, that she's really worked her whole life. Because this time I'm proud of you doesn't have anything to do with anything her guardians set out for her, neither have any of them even been present for her current adventure. Of course she has them to thank for the skills she's honed over the years and for her resilient spirit, but... This time, it was her decision to go somewhere, her decision to help the Carnival, her decision to step through the portal into Prismeer in search of the Hourglass Coven.
...Oh. Her eyes are prickling with tears now, too. Because she hopes, at the end of all this, that she'll be able to return to the Wilds and hear the same words from her parents in spite of everything. ]
Thank, Uncle Dee... We're both going to do amazing things, I just know it! Let's work hard while we're here so we'll be even stronger when we return to our adventures!
[ Time to hug it out again!! She loves hugs, so she is more than willing to close the distance and hug him again - this time without squeezing too tight or trying to lift him up off the ground. ]
You know, you give the best hugs!
[ ... ]
I'm really glad you're here, Uncle Dee. I feel like I can breathe a little easier... So if you ever need me to run an errand for you or anything, just let me know!
[ They're great for his back! But once the hug is over, he plops a hand onto the top of her head, settling it between her bunny ears. ]
I'm glad you're here, too. And I'll let you know on the errand front, but right now what I think I truly need is to see if I can catch a few hours of sleep.
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clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
no subject
A coven of hags. Perhaps not too unlike the coven of hags that stole her parents away from her. It almost seems meant to be.
Maybe her own adventure hasn’t been as dreadfully long as his own, and the feywild is certainly a far different beast from dark and dreary Barovia, but it’s not without its dangers. Even in so short a time, he can tell Juniper has grown too. ]
Well then, we’re going to have to make sure you’re well prepared for that match by the time we leave this place!
[ You know, whenever that might be. ]
It seems you’re really stepping into your own, too, Junebug.
no subject
For now, she's allowing herself the grace to hear Declan's words in earnest, despite how part of her truly feels unprepared for the battles ahead. Facing a coven does feel like it was meant to be. But at the same time, she's... Well, she's afraid of hags. ]
Ah.. You really think so, Uncle Dee? I feel like my adventure's just beginning, but you know, I... Don't regret running away at all. Even having just done that, and managing to get this far on my own... It feels really nice!
no subject
I’m proud of you, sweetheart. You’re going to do amazing things.
no subject
[ Of course Juniper has heard those words many times growing up - I'm proud of you. Perhaps almost too many times, that the words began to feel diluted over time, given almost by default simply for being, but this, from Declan, is...
She worked for it. The hardest, perhaps, that she's really worked her whole life. Because this time I'm proud of you doesn't have anything to do with anything her guardians set out for her, neither have any of them even been present for her current adventure. Of course she has them to thank for the skills she's honed over the years and for her resilient spirit, but... This time, it was her decision to go somewhere, her decision to help the Carnival, her decision to step through the portal into Prismeer in search of the Hourglass Coven.
...Oh. Her eyes are prickling with tears now, too. Because she hopes, at the end of all this, that she'll be able to return to the Wilds and hear the same words from her parents in spite of everything. ]
Thank, Uncle Dee... We're both going to do amazing things, I just know it! Let's work hard while we're here so we'll be even stronger when we return to our adventures!
no subject
Come here, Junebug.
[ Time to hug it out again. ]
no subject
You know, you give the best hugs!
[ ... ]
I'm really glad you're here, Uncle Dee. I feel like I can breathe a little easier... So if you ever need me to run an errand for you or anything, just let me know!
no subject
[ They're great for his back! But once the hug is over, he plops a hand onto the top of her head, settling it between her bunny ears. ]
I'm glad you're here, too. And I'll let you know on the errand front, but right now what I think I truly need is to see if I can catch a few hours of sleep.