[Someone's going to ask where the dog was later, looking for some food, upon seeing the fur clinging to Jill. Jordana would be sorry about Jill having to field those questions if she'd thought about it.
Being as there was no one in sight or immediate scent other than the two of them, Jordana shifted back into homid to wrap her arms about Jill in a full hug as she knelt by the other woman, wrapped in thick layers and a scarf about her head. She pressed a kiss to Jill's cold cheek.]
[Where she comes from... Jill is quiet for a beat.]
I was born in a place that was like this nearly year round. [Snow, ice. The North was cruel and harsh, but she never thought so. Rosaria felt colder, in its way.] But I grew up in a warmer climate, where anniversaries of battles and heroes were celebrated as much as the seasons and length of the day/
[She would call it what it was. 'Ward' implied a protection that didn't truly exist.]
You're nobility, if not royalty. [Jordana's read enough books to understand political hostages. Who the fuck took a six year old child as a hostage? Jordana's rage flared and she clenched her jaw a moment before she softened.]
I was raised alongside the princes. I was given every opportunity they were, and treated well.
[Archduke Elwin, at least, was kind. Anabella saw her only as an investment, someone to marry off for political gain. She has no love for any duchess.]
I would hope so, considering you were a child. But you were still a hostage.
[Of course, they treated her well. Political hostages situations go both ways. Mistreatment of the hostage would've been cause to incite the North to attack.]
[But that may be a biased opinion. Her memories of her family are dim, and she loves Clive and Joshua too much to ever imagine life without them again.]
Were you given the freedom to leave upon coming of age?
[Because then it was hard to put the veneer of ward on the situation. Was someone in Rosaria - these princes - trait wrong to harm a child if the Northmen had attacked? It made her sick to her stomach.]
[Her arms tightened about Jill, to give her comfort. Jordana could sympathize. Her four years in foster care was horrible. It felt like another land to her.]
I was mostly left alone in the prison. Treated kindly, even, by yourself and other guards. The Ironblood put me to work in horrific ways--and then, I was just a frightened girl.
[Were she who she is now, she'd have slaughtered them.]
[Jordana fell silent, her gaze going distant for a moment before she pulled herself out of the tunnel toward her past.]
I'm so sorry. If you ever want or need to talk about that time, there's a Rite only those of my tribe know that helps women heal spiritually after suffering.
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((I did. Beading is one of my skills. I made all my necklaces and the design on the back of my vest.
I'm glad you like it. I remembered you liked blue.))
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[She gets another hug around the neck, Jill uncaring about getting fur absolutely everywhere.]
cw: ref to animal death
Being as there was no one in sight or immediate scent other than the two of them, Jordana shifted back into homid to wrap her arms about Jill in a full hug as she knelt by the other woman, wrapped in thick layers and a scarf about her head. She pressed a kiss to Jill's cold cheek.]
Merry Christmas.
Re: cw: ref to animal death
Ironically, it's a little more awkward to hug a person than a canine, but Jill leans into it, kiss and all.]
Merry... Christmas.
[That's the thing she said, right? Jill can only assume it's meant to be said in return.]
Re: cw: ref to animal death
[Jordana assumed any awkwardness was from her having just shifted.]
You said winter holidays depend on the region. What about where your from?
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I was born in a place that was like this nearly year round. [Snow, ice. The North was cruel and harsh, but she never thought so. Rosaria felt colder, in its way.] But I grew up in a warmer climate, where anniversaries of battles and heroes were celebrated as much as the seasons and length of the day/
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[It made Jordana think about her immigration from Mexico to America when she was young.]
How is were you when you moved?
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I was taken as a ward of Rosaria when I was six.
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[Jordana was silent for a moment. 'Taken'.]
...I became a Ward of the State at ten. That meant I was placed into foster care after my mother died.
What does it mean for you ?
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[Which implies she's of some importance.]
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[She would call it what it was. 'Ward' implied a protection that didn't truly exist.]
You're nobility, if not royalty. [Jordana's read enough books to understand political hostages. Who the fuck took a six year old child as a hostage? Jordana's rage flared and she clenched her jaw a moment before she softened.]
I'm sorry.
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I was raised alongside the princes. I was given every opportunity they were, and treated well.
[Archduke Elwin, at least, was kind. Anabella saw her only as an investment, someone to marry off for political gain. She has no love for any duchess.]
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[Of course, they treated her well. Political hostages situations go both ways. Mistreatment of the hostage would've been cause to incite the North to attack.]
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[But that may be a biased opinion. Her memories of her family are dim, and she loves Clive and Joshua too much to ever imagine life without them again.]
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[Because then it was hard to put the veneer of ward on the situation. Was someone in Rosaria - these princes - trait wrong to harm a child if the Northmen had attacked? It made her sick to her stomach.]
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[So... no. Were she lucky it would have been Joshua or Clive, but she could never imagine Anabella allowing a savage to wed her precious Phoenix.]
But... Rosaria was invaded when I was twelve. I was taken to another land for a very long time.
[One so much worse than Rosaria.]
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[Her arms tightened about Jill, to give her comfort. Jordana could sympathize. Her four years in foster care was horrible. It felt like another land to her.]
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No. It was a place I'd consider worse than here, even with this cold.
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How could that be possible? You were here through the prison.
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[Were she who she is now, she'd have slaughtered them.]
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I'm so sorry. If you ever want or need to talk about that time, there's a Rite only those of my tribe know that helps women heal spiritually after suffering.
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I'm alright. It was a long time ago, and has since been put to rest.
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[Jordana put her palm over Jill's heart.]
If you are calm in here after all that, then you have a great will.