Rukia Kuchiki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
damn_juicebox) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
melodiesoflife2015-12-12 01:23 pm
damn_juicebox) wrote in melodiesoflife2015-12-12 01:23 pm
Entry tags:
The Cookie Claus
WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN!
WHAT: A bunch of December open prompts, since Rukia is a busy lady. All the time. Forever. Also there's a holiday gift list for those she knows relatively well.
WHEN: Pick a day! She's in the Santa Village for the whole month, except December 4th & 6th (Aqures Ixen), December 5th (Esdham), and December 12th (Trano Golsaucia).
WHERE: Mostly the Santa Village, but if it's one of the exception dates, she could be somewhere else.
Making Cookies - Santa Village
In the beginning, Rukia's cookies are edible, and okay. Not aesthetically pleasing enough to be passed out in bakeries, to be sure, but they tasted all right. But she practiced diligently, baking every morning for four to six hours, to make sure there would be plenty to pass out to the visiting children when she donned the hat and spectacles of Mrs. Claus. Her baking improved significantly once some of her more experienced friends arrived to make suggestions and offer tips.
It was hard work, but she found that she loved it. There was something very gratifying in rolling out the dough and trying to get the maximum number of shapes cut out, and decorating each gingerbread man (or rabbit) in a unique and different style.
Every morning, and sometimes at night, she was hard at work in either her own kitchen or at the one nestled in the corner of Santa's Office, and the air was rich with the smells of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The smell alone would have been worth all of her hard work, as there was something very comforting about the aroma of freshly baked sweets.
Rukia tipped to the side to check the recipe once more, a measuring cup in her hands, before meting out the correct quantity of flour. She rubbed her cheek against her shoulder to quell an itch, as she sometimes forgot her flour-dusted hands shouldn't touch her face. A smear of batter on her forehead was evidence of that. She'd clean it up later, once she got this next batch of shortbread in the oven.
Mrs. Claus - Santa Village
To be honest, Rukia had no idea what a warm and cozy home was supposed to look like. The Kuchiki manor was elegant and expensively decorated, but she wouldn't exactly call it inviting. She also had doubts that Ichigo's family home was the paragon of warmth and comfort due to the giant poster of his late mother hanging on the wall.
But she did have references in the form of books, and Moogles who were more than happy to talk about the old legends. The Office had to be three things: clean, warm, and comfortable. Keeping it clean wasn't too hard, and she handled a broom and mop like a pro to wipe up melted snow and tracked dirt near the entryway. Keeping it warm wasn't difficult either, since the fireplace was always bright and crackling as she fed it from the woodpile.
But comfortable was where it got tricky. She brought unbaked batches of cookies in order to bake them at the Office, filling the air with the scent of spice and sugar. Wreathes of pine were hung up strategically to give off that nice pine aroma. There were sprigs of mistletoe hung up here and there as well. What was it for? She didn't know, but apparently it was traditional. That was all that mattered. With sprigs of holly to add color to the walls, wrapping paper left out on a desk to look as if Santa had been wrapping something before heading out, and candles burning in places just out of reach of tiny child hands, she thought she was doing a fine job of recreating the look and feel of a home that might have been owned by a kindly elderly wife and husband.
The stuffed rabbit on the hearth was a little out of place, though.
Rukia smiled as she passed out cookies to visitors. Some of them asked if the rabbit cookie cutter might have slipped into the Christmas collection by mistake. No, it was not a mistake. They were decorated with frosting scarves and Santa hats, therefore it was perfectly seasonal for a rabbit cookie as long as it was decked out in holiday gear.
She was also more than happy to offer chocobo rides on Yuki, who seemed surprisingly complacent with children. The more they ooh'd and aah'd over her white feathers, the more the vain chocobo primped and posed, eating up the flattery and attention.
Any Santa Clauses that showed up to work with Rukia would get a heaping helping of false domestic bliss, as she had no problem playing her role to the extreme. He would always be addressed as 'Santa dear,' get regular servings of milk and cookies, and she'd bring him his 'list' of names so he could check to see which children were good (hint: all of them). He might even get a kiss on the cheek for the sake of the kids, too, if she knew him well enough. It was all in good fun and generating the holiday spirit, so she saw no harm in getting into the role.
Relaxing at Home - Santa Village
When Rukia got home, she was exhausted, but in a good way. She felt strangely satisfied. Peaceful, even. She knew she should get dinner started, and she would soon enough. But first things first: collapsing face-first onto the couch with a happy, contented sigh. There had been a lot on her mind before she came here, and to be honest, there was a lot still there that she needed to sort through and figure out on her own. But throwing herself into this work created a sense of comfort, as if everything would turn out just fine, whether the problem was large or personal.
She pulled the hat off of her head by the pompom and let it drop on the table, one arm curled under her cheek. It felt good, working this hard for something so simple. She liked seeing people's faces light up when they walked into the office, or when they enjoyed her cookies. But it still felt a little like she was running away from a feeling she'd never really known before, and wasn't sure if she should keep running, or embrace it for what it was.
Perhaps she just needed a little more time to figure things out.
After enjoying the silence for a few minutes, Rukia forced herself to get up. She rubbed the back of her sore shoulder and made herself put one stocking-clad foot in front of the other until she reached the kitchen. All she had to do was chop up some vegetables, toss them in a pot, and let it simmer while she went upstairs to take a hot shower. Then she'd eat by the fire, possibly fall asleep in front of that fire, and watch the snow drift outside of the window.
This was where she needed to be. ...Right?
Christmas Shopping - Aqures Ixen, Esdham, Trano Golsaucia, or Santa Village
When Rukia went shopping, it was one of the rare occasions that she didn't march around in the red and white dress of her job. She bundled up nonetheless in a warm coat and thick boots, gloves snugged onto her fingers, a scarf wound around her neck, and earmuffs securely placed. The cold weather was crisp and invigorating. She'd always loved winter, but she figured those who liked the chilly season usually had a birthday during those months. Born in January, Rukia was no exception. Perhaps that was why her zanpakutou manifested as an ice type as well.
In one hand, she carried a list of names, some of them crossed off. In her other hand she carried a bag that was starting to get a little too heavy with gifts. She might not know much about the origins of the holiday, but she did like having an excuse to shove presents at her friends to express her gratitude. Up until the past couple of years, friends were few in the Soul Society. She'd often been lonely, and had kept those awkward feelings to herself. Who could she possibly have talked to?
Now, there was no shortage of kind-hearted people who had reached out to her, cared about her, and let her into their lives. They meant so much to her. If she could show at least a sliver of that warmth in return, be it with candy or weapons, then she absolutely would. For as long as she remained on this planet, she wanted to keep kindled that feeling of companionship and love for as long as she could. Someday it would all end, and they'd return to their homes, and it was possible they'd never see each other again. It was important, therefore, that she not take a single minute for granted if she could share it with someone dear.
"Two moustache wax kits, please," she said, passing the gil to the shopkeep before receiving the gifts in return.
Maybe it was an odd way to show affection, but at least she had an outlet of some sort.
Holiday Gift List
Ace - A brand new journal stamped with a chocobo on the front cover, and a set of new pencils.
Allenby Beardsley - Brass knuckles, crafted for smaller hands.
Anise Tatlin - A Fat Chocobo brand apron and a homemade cheesecake drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Barkeep - Aftershave and moustache wax.
Billy Lee Black - Incendiary bullets. She knows he loves those.
Chiaki Nanami - Bottles of nail polish in assorted colors and a bag of ripe tomatoes since she thought Chiaki must really love those.
Cloud Strife - Fancy greens for chocobos and a warm flannel undershirt for when he has to work in the cold at the ranch.
D - A heavy black cloak trimmed with black fur, better suited for colder weather than the one she last saw him wear.
Flynn Scifo - Leather riding gloves and a bag of cookies she thought he could share with his best friend.
Graham Specter - Polish for his wrench, and a pair of earmuffs to keep his ears warm.
Ichigo Kurosaki - Some winter bedding, and fingerless gloves.
Jack Harkness - A comfortable green sweater.
James Kidd - A bottle of good whiskey.
Kija - A new cookbook entitled 'Recipes for Beginners Ha Ha Ha' and a set of common cooking utensils.
Levy McGarden - Six bottles of colored ink and a new quill.
Manami Sangaku - A hand-drawn picture of himself as a rabbit in Rukia's classic style, framed, and a box of oranges.
Minato Arisato - A variety of hot chocolate mixes in different flavors, and a warm wool scarf in blue and white stripes.
Ramza Beoulve - A leather-bound bestiary she picked up in Mysidia and a finely crafted dagger.
Raven - A bundle of Fire Arrows, a charm that adds a resistance to Ice attacks, and a patterned quilt of blue and purple diamonds.
Ravio - Bunny slippers. She might have bought a pair for herself too because SLIPPERS COME IN BUNNIES?!?!
Ray Stantz - A collection of potions that cure wounds and heal status ailments for him to study.
Reno -A wedding ring. An onyx spiral-shaped pendant on a silver chain.
Robin - Books on Mysidian traditions and herbology.
Selen - Finely crafted boots of dark grey leather.
Sephiroth - A boot knife of black steel, just in case.
Sparks Nevada - A pot of quick-drying ink, a block of sealing wax, and a stamp with the letters 'SN' on it. Enjoy your paperwork.
Valvalis - Elegant hairpins and sticks with small jeweled chains.
Ventus - New silver sewing shears, sharpened and in a velvet-lined box.
Yachiru Kusajishi - A basket heaped with candy and homemade cookies.
Yuffie Kisaragi - A musicbox that plays a pretty song, with a hidden compartment in the back to store jewelry.
Yuna - Tall dancing boots that lace up the sides.
Yuri Lowell - Silver filigree bracers and a moustache wax kit. She thinks she's funny. Repede also gets a steak.
Zelda - A book of Mysidian poetry and a set of velvet hair ribbons.
WHAT: A bunch of December open prompts, since Rukia is a busy lady. All the time. Forever. Also there's a holiday gift list for those she knows relatively well.
WHEN: Pick a day! She's in the Santa Village for the whole month, except December 4th & 6th (Aqures Ixen), December 5th (Esdham), and December 12th (Trano Golsaucia).
WHERE: Mostly the Santa Village, but if it's one of the exception dates, she could be somewhere else.
Making Cookies - Santa Village
In the beginning, Rukia's cookies are edible, and okay. Not aesthetically pleasing enough to be passed out in bakeries, to be sure, but they tasted all right. But she practiced diligently, baking every morning for four to six hours, to make sure there would be plenty to pass out to the visiting children when she donned the hat and spectacles of Mrs. Claus. Her baking improved significantly once some of her more experienced friends arrived to make suggestions and offer tips.
It was hard work, but she found that she loved it. There was something very gratifying in rolling out the dough and trying to get the maximum number of shapes cut out, and decorating each gingerbread man (or rabbit) in a unique and different style.
Every morning, and sometimes at night, she was hard at work in either her own kitchen or at the one nestled in the corner of Santa's Office, and the air was rich with the smells of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The smell alone would have been worth all of her hard work, as there was something very comforting about the aroma of freshly baked sweets.
Rukia tipped to the side to check the recipe once more, a measuring cup in her hands, before meting out the correct quantity of flour. She rubbed her cheek against her shoulder to quell an itch, as she sometimes forgot her flour-dusted hands shouldn't touch her face. A smear of batter on her forehead was evidence of that. She'd clean it up later, once she got this next batch of shortbread in the oven.
Mrs. Claus - Santa Village
To be honest, Rukia had no idea what a warm and cozy home was supposed to look like. The Kuchiki manor was elegant and expensively decorated, but she wouldn't exactly call it inviting. She also had doubts that Ichigo's family home was the paragon of warmth and comfort due to the giant poster of his late mother hanging on the wall.
But she did have references in the form of books, and Moogles who were more than happy to talk about the old legends. The Office had to be three things: clean, warm, and comfortable. Keeping it clean wasn't too hard, and she handled a broom and mop like a pro to wipe up melted snow and tracked dirt near the entryway. Keeping it warm wasn't difficult either, since the fireplace was always bright and crackling as she fed it from the woodpile.
But comfortable was where it got tricky. She brought unbaked batches of cookies in order to bake them at the Office, filling the air with the scent of spice and sugar. Wreathes of pine were hung up strategically to give off that nice pine aroma. There were sprigs of mistletoe hung up here and there as well. What was it for? She didn't know, but apparently it was traditional. That was all that mattered. With sprigs of holly to add color to the walls, wrapping paper left out on a desk to look as if Santa had been wrapping something before heading out, and candles burning in places just out of reach of tiny child hands, she thought she was doing a fine job of recreating the look and feel of a home that might have been owned by a kindly elderly wife and husband.
The stuffed rabbit on the hearth was a little out of place, though.
Rukia smiled as she passed out cookies to visitors. Some of them asked if the rabbit cookie cutter might have slipped into the Christmas collection by mistake. No, it was not a mistake. They were decorated with frosting scarves and Santa hats, therefore it was perfectly seasonal for a rabbit cookie as long as it was decked out in holiday gear.
She was also more than happy to offer chocobo rides on Yuki, who seemed surprisingly complacent with children. The more they ooh'd and aah'd over her white feathers, the more the vain chocobo primped and posed, eating up the flattery and attention.
Any Santa Clauses that showed up to work with Rukia would get a heaping helping of false domestic bliss, as she had no problem playing her role to the extreme. He would always be addressed as 'Santa dear,' get regular servings of milk and cookies, and she'd bring him his 'list' of names so he could check to see which children were good (hint: all of them). He might even get a kiss on the cheek for the sake of the kids, too, if she knew him well enough. It was all in good fun and generating the holiday spirit, so she saw no harm in getting into the role.
Relaxing at Home - Santa Village
When Rukia got home, she was exhausted, but in a good way. She felt strangely satisfied. Peaceful, even. She knew she should get dinner started, and she would soon enough. But first things first: collapsing face-first onto the couch with a happy, contented sigh. There had been a lot on her mind before she came here, and to be honest, there was a lot still there that she needed to sort through and figure out on her own. But throwing herself into this work created a sense of comfort, as if everything would turn out just fine, whether the problem was large or personal.
She pulled the hat off of her head by the pompom and let it drop on the table, one arm curled under her cheek. It felt good, working this hard for something so simple. She liked seeing people's faces light up when they walked into the office, or when they enjoyed her cookies. But it still felt a little like she was running away from a feeling she'd never really known before, and wasn't sure if she should keep running, or embrace it for what it was.
Perhaps she just needed a little more time to figure things out.
After enjoying the silence for a few minutes, Rukia forced herself to get up. She rubbed the back of her sore shoulder and made herself put one stocking-clad foot in front of the other until she reached the kitchen. All she had to do was chop up some vegetables, toss them in a pot, and let it simmer while she went upstairs to take a hot shower. Then she'd eat by the fire, possibly fall asleep in front of that fire, and watch the snow drift outside of the window.
This was where she needed to be. ...Right?
Christmas Shopping - Aqures Ixen, Esdham, Trano Golsaucia, or Santa Village
When Rukia went shopping, it was one of the rare occasions that she didn't march around in the red and white dress of her job. She bundled up nonetheless in a warm coat and thick boots, gloves snugged onto her fingers, a scarf wound around her neck, and earmuffs securely placed. The cold weather was crisp and invigorating. She'd always loved winter, but she figured those who liked the chilly season usually had a birthday during those months. Born in January, Rukia was no exception. Perhaps that was why her zanpakutou manifested as an ice type as well.
In one hand, she carried a list of names, some of them crossed off. In her other hand she carried a bag that was starting to get a little too heavy with gifts. She might not know much about the origins of the holiday, but she did like having an excuse to shove presents at her friends to express her gratitude. Up until the past couple of years, friends were few in the Soul Society. She'd often been lonely, and had kept those awkward feelings to herself. Who could she possibly have talked to?
Now, there was no shortage of kind-hearted people who had reached out to her, cared about her, and let her into their lives. They meant so much to her. If she could show at least a sliver of that warmth in return, be it with candy or weapons, then she absolutely would. For as long as she remained on this planet, she wanted to keep kindled that feeling of companionship and love for as long as she could. Someday it would all end, and they'd return to their homes, and it was possible they'd never see each other again. It was important, therefore, that she not take a single minute for granted if she could share it with someone dear.
"Two moustache wax kits, please," she said, passing the gil to the shopkeep before receiving the gifts in return.
Maybe it was an odd way to show affection, but at least she had an outlet of some sort.
Holiday Gift List
Ace - A brand new journal stamped with a chocobo on the front cover, and a set of new pencils.
Allenby Beardsley - Brass knuckles, crafted for smaller hands.
Anise Tatlin - A Fat Chocobo brand apron and a homemade cheesecake drizzled with chocolate sauce.
Barkeep - Aftershave and moustache wax.
Billy Lee Black - Incendiary bullets. She knows he loves those.
Chiaki Nanami - Bottles of nail polish in assorted colors and a bag of ripe tomatoes since she thought Chiaki must really love those.
Cloud Strife - Fancy greens for chocobos and a warm flannel undershirt for when he has to work in the cold at the ranch.
D - A heavy black cloak trimmed with black fur, better suited for colder weather than the one she last saw him wear.
Flynn Scifo - Leather riding gloves and a bag of cookies she thought he could share with his best friend.
Graham Specter - Polish for his wrench, and a pair of earmuffs to keep his ears warm.
Ichigo Kurosaki - Some winter bedding, and fingerless gloves.
Jack Harkness - A comfortable green sweater.
James Kidd - A bottle of good whiskey.
Kija - A new cookbook entitled 'Recipes for Beginners Ha Ha Ha' and a set of common cooking utensils.
Levy McGarden - Six bottles of colored ink and a new quill.
Manami Sangaku - A hand-drawn picture of himself as a rabbit in Rukia's classic style, framed, and a box of oranges.
Minato Arisato - A variety of hot chocolate mixes in different flavors, and a warm wool scarf in blue and white stripes.
Ramza Beoulve - A leather-bound bestiary she picked up in Mysidia and a finely crafted dagger.
Raven - A bundle of Fire Arrows, a charm that adds a resistance to Ice attacks, and a patterned quilt of blue and purple diamonds.
Ravio - Bunny slippers. She might have bought a pair for herself too because SLIPPERS COME IN BUNNIES?!?!
Ray Stantz - A collection of potions that cure wounds and heal status ailments for him to study.
Reno -
Robin - Books on Mysidian traditions and herbology.
Selen - Finely crafted boots of dark grey leather.
Sephiroth - A boot knife of black steel, just in case.
Sparks Nevada - A pot of quick-drying ink, a block of sealing wax, and a stamp with the letters 'SN' on it. Enjoy your paperwork.
Valvalis - Elegant hairpins and sticks with small jeweled chains.
Ventus - New silver sewing shears, sharpened and in a velvet-lined box.
Yachiru Kusajishi - A basket heaped with candy and homemade cookies.
Yuffie Kisaragi - A musicbox that plays a pretty song, with a hidden compartment in the back to store jewelry.
Yuna - Tall dancing boots that lace up the sides.
Yuri Lowell - Silver filigree bracers and a moustache wax kit. She thinks she's funny. Repede also gets a steak.
Zelda - A book of Mysidian poetry and a set of velvet hair ribbons.
Mrs. Claus - Santa Village
One being how old she was and two being if she was married. There were all other kinds of questions thrown her way, but she managed to avoid answering them somehow, or giving them the faintest, and most clean answer possible. She walked over to Rukia and tapped the other girl on the shoulder a while later, a smile playing on her lips as she spoke to the girl.
"Is there perhaps anything else I can assist with, Rukia?" she mused giving the girl a bigger smile before continuing, "I must say, you're quite the hard worker!"
no subject
After shepherding off the last group of visitors, Rukia blinked and turned at the tap to her shoulder. "Nothing in particular," she smiled and shook her head at the polite request. "We'll clean up later once it's time to close the Office, but for now, just being present is more than enough."
She was surprised to be called a hard worker, however. "Am I? It doesn't feel like work," she admitted, holding her chin thoughtfully. Maybe that was because her idea of work involved hitting enemies with her sword. Compared to that, this was a luxury winter vacation.
"You've been very kind to pitch in. You have a natural way with children."
no subject
Selen waved to the disappearing children as they left the premise to return home, pulling off the Santa hat that she had on. She then turned to Rukia as the girl spoke to her finally.
"That sounds like a good plan. We can do that together if you don't mind?" she mused giving Rukia a big smile on that comment. She chuckled at the girl's response, "You work very hard, even if you do not appear it. The children seem to adore you very much," the former general replied with a nod of her head.
"Do I now? I suppose after raising a teenage orphan, it's not so hard..." she chuckled. On top of that, well she couldn't really talk about Ishtar too casually since the princess was more work than her son ever was.
no subject
And see if she couldn't return the favor somehow, since she still felt she owed Selen a large debt in return for her help at the small village and for being killed by the reaper.
The compliments left Rukia slightly flustered. The children adored her? Really? She assumed it was probably nothing more than the role she played, but nonetheless, she did feel a little happy to hear it. "Oh...er...thank you, that's very kind." Teenagers she could deal with. Children? She supposed she and Yachiru got along, and she did like Ichigo's little sisters.
Since it would be a while until the next group, Rukia went to make some tea for them to share. "You adopted a teenager? I hadn't known that," she blinked. It just further confirmed her belief that Selen was a very kind woman indeed. "What were they like?"
no subject
Rukia didn't have to worry too much about Selen's well being. She was set on doing goodwill for people but she would never really throw her life away carelessly. That wasn't something she wanted to do or leave behind. She was a strong and bold woman, who had a lot of pride, despite her casual attitude towards everything.
Selen could tell that the children liked Rukia a lot and she seemed to enjoy herself when she was with them as well. The woman chuckled a little at Rukia's flustered reaction. What a cute child. It would be unfortunate if no one ever told her how sweet and hard working she was. It was a role, but it didn't feel to the woman like Rukia was faking her gentleness.
"You're quite welcome. You must have gotten compliments before right? I can't possibly imagine what kind of horrible people would not appreciate a hard working girl like yourself," she replied with a bright smile still on her face as she rested a bit on a chair nearby. She was thankful for the tea and takes it as Rukia asks her about adopting Darres.
"Oh, well I suppose I should ask you how you think I am first before I tell you some stories?" she muses almost a bit mischievously.
no subject
It would be even more unfortunate if someone called her a 'cute child.'Rukia had actually met Darres previously, having paid a visit to the hospital around the same time Darres had awoken from crystal stasis. She just didn't know that the two of them were connected.
"How old I think you are?" Rukia echoed. She wasn't entirely sure how to answer that. Some people could be really sensitive about that sort of thing. (Rukia could be, but usually because CERTAIN PEOPLE kept speaking to her as if she were a kid.) She turned her head away, holding her chin in thought, then looked toward the ceiling. "Hm...well...if you're asking a question like that, I assume you're ageless, like myself. The decades cease to matter once physical maturity is reached."
no subject
At least Selen didn't tease her about being a cute child. She looked young herself, so she couldn't really make jokes like that towards Rukia.Selen was pretty subtle about her connection with her son, and the topic only came up when people asked her about Darres. She never really mentioned it honestly, or she would casually bring it up rather than talk about it seriously. She was damn proud of her kid, and that was without doubt. She could go on about him forever and ever.
"Yep," she replied with a soft chuckle from her lips. Of course, Rukia's answer was intelligent and very straight to the point. She laughed a little louder at the words that came from the other girl's mouth, "My, you have quite the eyes, Rukia. That is mostly correct. I suppose you do not act as young as you look. There is something wise about you."
no subject
"Anyway," she tipped her hand toward Selen, "I can't claim any special insight. We're both long-lived, so I'm more likely to recognize the signs than someone who lives a mortal lifespan. Please, continue with what you were saying before."
no subject
She replied placing a hand on her hips for the comment. Selen turned towards her some more as nodded her head, "I suppose you're right on that. Right, we were talking about my son," she chimed seemingly beaming at that thought.
"He's called Darres, a rather tall fellow. He's got a huge heart and it often gets him him in tight spots. I adopted him off the streets, since he was caught stealing once. His parents were wonderful people from what I was told. It's unfortunate, that he grew up in poverty," she started before adding, "He's now the General of Pheliosta, and also the former Princess' Husband. I suppose that makes him King, but Darres never really wants me to talk about that. The princess is now a Queen, I suppose."
no subject
Suddenly she snapped her fingers. "I encountered someone named Darres, who woke up at the hospital last month. I wonder if it's the same person?" He'd shown concern and compassion for his Moogle, which had quickly won her favor. But beyond that, she didn't know him that well. He had the 'tall' and 'huge heart' qualities, though.
Well, in any case, it was nice to hear the story, since Rukia had been adopted into a noble family herself. It seemed like she had a lot in common with Selen's son, in that case (though she was certainly no queen). "Is he ashamed of his nobility, or just humble?"
no subject
She was always eager to talk about him no matter what. Even if he's older now, she wasn't going to stop. A mom's job is to embarrass her favorite son right? The poor thing has to live with her doing this to him when he's a grown man. Selen shook her head as Rukia asked if he was ashamed.
"No rather, I think he has a lot of respect for the royal family. He's always doing his bets for them regardless of his title. It kind of puts him in a tough situation sometimes but he's willing to take it. I suppose humble is the correct word and embarrassing. Who would have thought he would end up marrying the Princess of Pheliosta? They've always been close even before they got married but perhaps they both held back for logical reasons. I am happy that they were able to overcome the obstacles until today. Darres rather likes his job as a general too."
She chimed and she paused, thinking maybe she spoke too much now.
no subject
"Yes, that sounds like the Darres I met," Rukia confirmed. "He was a very pleasant young man. I can see why you'd be proud of him," she chuckled. "I'm glad you were able to reunite here. It makes facing the tasks ahead much easier if you have someone you know and trust at your side, doesn't it?"
no subject
"Does it really?"
She chimed happily as she looked over at Rukia, "He is quite the charming young man. He's also polite at it. I hope he treated you as well as I want him to."
She cheerfully added.
"I am glad as well! He's quite a handful from time to time. Yes, it seems like it's easier to trust those from the same world than those that are not. However, there are plenty of people here whom I trust as much as I trust Darres, including you, Rukia."
no subject
It wasn't as if Rukia were the conspiring or sneaky type, of course. But she hadn't exactly forgotten her poor planning when she'd led Selen and so many others into battle against the Reaper. As good as Rukia's intentions were, she wasn't entirely sure she was deserving of trust, especially to such an intrinsic level.
no subject
She replied chuckling at Rukia's expression. Did she say something strange? She was certain she said what was on her mind and nothing more than that. Rukia was as human as anyone. She's capable of making mistakes and mistakes were part of a learning process. Selen never blamed Rukia for anything that had happened because she was leading. Honestly, she rather liked the leader like traits that Rukia had.
"You're a kind girl, and you're the type to lead others and take the initiative. If only the world had more people like you. It'd be much better. Don't you agree?"
no subject
"But thank you. It's kind of you to say so in any case," she smiled, relaxing. Rukia just hoped she could live up to Selen's faith in her, as it still seemed she had a long way to go in order to be the type of Hero the people of Crystallis thought she might be.
no subject
She replied with a small smile at the comment. Of course, she leaves it at that so they can move on with the conversation. There's no need to dwell on depressing things honestly. How cute of Rukia to blush like that. Selen could just cuddle her but the woman was going to be polite and give her the personal space she needed.
"You're welcome. I'm only stating what's the truth, sweetheart," she replied with a chuckle to Rukia's thank you.