Through a glass, darkly...

[darkestbefore]

Who: Yona and friends, or those wandering by
When: Early in May
Where: Outside the Looking-Glass House, around Aefenglom, her cottage
What: Yona is drawn to her Mirror and comes away with more than she bargained for.
Warnings: sad things??? also spoilers for current manga arc, I guess...


A. Long-Sought Answers
( semi-open, to friends or anyone wandering by the Looking-Glass House )

[ She's not even aware of being drawn when she wanders out of her cottage early this morning, only that there's a restless feeling inside of her tugging, pulling... It's not until she faces the Looking-Glass House that she gets an idea of what's happening. Not that she's experienced this before, but she's heard of such things. Not resisting that pull she can feel, she steps inside and climbs the stairs, stepping into one of the smaller rooms that holds a mirror carved of bright cherry wood and carved with the intricate shapes of four entwined dragons. It's been so long since she's been here that she'd almost forgotten about it entirely, but as she reaches out to brush her fingers over one of the dragon figures encircling her mirror, there's not a speck of dust to be found on the frame.

It's then the reflection in her mirror wavers and she feels herself falling to her knees, vision caught by the reflection that plays out like a dream. It's like it opens some locked part of her memories as new knowledge flows in and settles into place, as if she'd somehow forgotten something as important as all of this. Which was impossible, with what she learns - relearns? - and as she watches memories spill out across that reflection. Familiar faces, familiar voices, ones she hasn't seen in so long now that she cries at the sight of them, missing them with a fierce heartache that reopens and burns through her again as she presses her fingers against the mirror's surface as if that would be enough to reconnect her.

And then the memories of finding a book, a memoir, penned in a delicate but unfamiliar hand, holding the secrets that have haunted her since that first fateful day when her world crumbled around her. The knowledge passed on from her aunt, a woman she barely remembers, but one who had held all the secrets she'd been missing to understand what had come about before of her mere existence. And then her father's words, that handwriting far more familiar but still something she hasn't seen in so long...

It brings up old memories she'd long forgotten. Brings new memories she struggles to acclimate with everything else she knows. And long after the mirror fades once more back into a mere reflection, she still kneels there, shaken, tears streaming down her face as she grieves - for what she now knows, for what she hadn't before. For losses that feel fresh and raw and new all over again.

She doesn't know how much time passes before she walks away from her mirror again, but there's something disconnected in her manner, her thoughts still lost in memories as she descends the staircase and wanders back out of the house. But even then, it's only to sink down on the stairs outside the Looking-Glass House, arms wrapped around her knees as she stares off into nothing, her eyes red and her cheeks stained with tears. ]

B. Heartache
( closed to her Bonded, close CR )

[ She's not even aware of how much of her emotions are leaking down her Bond. Her thoughts and her heart are in such turmoil that part of her is numb to it, the icy shock of grief. She ends up back at her cottage, although even she isn't sure how, not remembering her passage from the Looking-Glass House to there. She goes through the motions of making tea, but really, it's only to keep her hands busy. To do something, even as her mind struggles to come to terms with the new knowledge she holds.

But later she can be found out in her garden, cup of tea growing cold beside her as she stares off into nothing, deeply lost in her own thoughts. Her eyes are still reddened, still show signs of tears, but she sits quietly, subdued, the air of sadness thick around her. It's so deep she might not even realize if someone else approaches her - unusual for her. Ao is curled up on her lap, apparently asleep as her fingers absently stroke over the small squirrel's head, taking comfort in her presence, although there's something about the Princess at the moment that feels very... desperately alone. ]

Comments

A

[themogget]

[Mogget spends time around here because he can, because he's curious, and because he's sure he can smell the magic lingering around the place. More often than not it's deserted, but every so often he finds someone interesting lingering around.

The last time, it had been Soren, angrily arguing with himself in a mirror.

This time it's a young woman, leaving the house with an unreadable look on her face. He watches her pass by inside the house and follows her out, finding her sitting on the steps outside. The cat approaches and sits down next to her, looking up with bright green eyes. For once, he doesn'r start an interaction like this by pretending he can't speak.]

You saw something?

B

[futhark]

[ Maybe it's not his place to arrive without warning, without as much as a message on the watch. But Cú doesn't consider the possible ramifications of such lack of tact— and instead invites himself into a garden belonging to Yona. Been here often enough, that the route here he could take even with closed eyes.

For once, he doesn't use tree branches to travel and make a surprise entrance from. No, he makes his presence known by simply, and slowly entering the area of sacred green. The sadness like a mournful tune of a melody only felt somewhere around his heart.

He approaches without word, and sits himself down next to Yona. ]

a

[oathkeeper]

[Sora doesn't pass by the Looking-Glass House as much as he used to. About a year ago he would check it almost every single day to see if anything changed about his own mirror or if any new and old friends would appear. Then it turned into every other week. Then every other month... Time stretches between each time he checks now, longer and longer. Maybe he's just settled into the world long enough, now. Content with it, happy with his life? Or maybe he just can't stand how much he misses the home he sees in the mirror sometimes?

When he passes by idly he's not expecting to see the girl there. Holding herself like she's just seen an entire storm...]

Yona? Yona!

[He quickly comes to her, sliding down to his own knees so that he can place his hands on her shoulders.]

Are you okay? What's wrong?

B

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran finds that it's much easier to deal with intense emotion when it's not yours, even if he can feel its effects—at least, when it comes to this kind of deep sorrow. Once he's identified its true source, he makes his way over to her cottage, not wasting time with terrestrial roads and paths; even though he's fairly certain whatever this has come from isn't urgent, he's nonetheless impatient to see Yona and offer her the comfort she clearly needs.

He lets himself in, feeling no need to announce himself, and settles his hands on her shoulders almost as soon as he sees her. There'll be plenty of time for words later.]

B

[darkcharge]

Oh Princess...

[ He hadn't seen her in a bit. Since Yona isn't checking up on him, that means he should go seek her out. Give her a piece of his mind.

What he sees, however, is anything but the lively and energetic princess that he is accustomed to. He might see that she's a little down and slow down his walking pace...

But that won't stop him from sitting down in front of her. ]

Yona.