[center][url=https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/17-9.htm][img]https://i.imgur.com/qWI2ycc.png[/img][/url] [h1][color=palevioletred]Another "Raffaella"[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [hr] Mission accomplished, Zarina’s friend was thwarted and the Imam was alive. A depressing celebration of cheap red wine in one of the commandeered Virangish homes was her go-to for an evening of unwinding. Or maybe this was merely a ritual to prepare for the chat with Raffaella. Regardless of intent, two glasses of wine were prepared with the tall teen sagging into her wooden seat and her eyes focused on a small stack of papers. Copies of reports, it seemed, from the official stamps. [color=#E5E4E2]“Hey.”[/color] she greeted her fellow compatriot with mellowed, half-lidded eyes and a lopsided smile. [color=#E5E4E2]“How’s the duty been for you so far?”[/color] she inquired, the mundane nature of the question veiling the increased concern she had for a colleague she had once seen as the little sister of the team. [color=palevioletred]"...Evening, Zazz,"[/color] came the reply, lacking the verbosity and grace of her earlier performance. The high pitch wasn't there, either, but it was a bit different from her usual pouting, too. The only explanation seemed to be that something didn't go well, and Zarina wouldn't have to wait long to find out what. Raffie placed her hands on the armrests and hopped up into her chair. She eyed the wine, seeming to consider it. She was an "adult" now, whatever that was supposed to mean, so no one could hold it against her if she indulged a little, right? She took the glass by the stem and rocked it back and forth, ponderously. [color=palevioletred]"...Osman was right, Zazzy. That's just the plain truth of it,"[/color] she sighed. Indulged in a sip of her vintage as she crossed her arms under her chest and assessed the girl-turned-woman from neck to shoe. Her gestures were precise, the fruit of experience with her betters - very Afravalesque, she called it. It became very clear to Zarina that she wasn't talking to a child anymore. [color=#E5E4E2]“He has said many things.”[/color] but only a couple could lead to such gloom. The older of the two swallowed her worries with another gulp of her drink. [color=#E5E4E2]“What's been troubling you?”[/color] At that, Raffie made her signature pouting face. Well, perhaps it was annoyance with Zarina playing coy, or perhaps she was trying to lighten the mood just a little. She certainly seemed to have the self-awareness to know that it looked a little silly, but that also meant she knew how to use it to lower someone's guard. [color=palevioletred]"What do you think?"[/color] she sulked. The temptation of the wine seemed to get the better of her, but she partook of it slowly and with class. [color=palevioletred]"I've had another dream, Zazzy. Our plan isn't working. Or well, it's not [i]going[/i] to work. If we don't change course—and I mean, like, 'hard to port!' changed then we're going to lose Palapar."[/color] Zarina inhaled deeply and raised her chin in acknowledgement of the question and opted to indulge in her vintage before confessing something. Calm and collected, mellowed by the drink no doubt. [color=#E5E4E2]“Our King spoke to me and Ren. I'm unsure if you've been made aware of the subject matter.”[/color] This demeanor of her's did not survive Raffaella's second addition to the conversation. A look of concern reigned on Zarinas expression, the same one she had back at the royal garden. [color=#E5E4E2]“A dream.”[/color] she repeated. [color=#E5E4E2]“[b]What[/b] dream?”[/color] she was already mentally berating herself for entertaining the delusions that had made her friend almost unrecognizable. She wasn't done. To avoid falling in the trap of indulging too much in notions beyond herself, she presented her own concern. [color=#E5E4E2]“What do you make of Ren?”[/color] Raffaella considered. She sipped her wine. She considered some more, regarding Zarina with eyes that could have been wary, tired, or both. What should she say—that an international web of corrupt politicians and career criminals were plotting the downfall of Virang? No. She needed to start smaller if she wanted to gain her friend's trust back. She exhaled deeply. [color=palevioletred]"Ambitious to a fault. Not a shred of virtue. 'Might makes right.' Useful in a pinch,"[/color] she diagnosed rather brutally. [color=palevioletred]"I thought we could use him to break the rebels' will to go on fighting and cut the bloodshed short. It's not going to work. More massacres will happen, sparking more outrage. Soon, they'll have better weapons and become even bolder."[/color] Zarina sighed in relief. Common ground, at least there was something to work with other than "dreams". [color=#E5E4E2]“Your opinion is that he isn't the right tool for the job, then.”[/color] a crude summary to get to her point. [color=#E5E4E2]“I agree. And was far too keen on following our leader's plan. Not a shred of a second thought.”[/color] stressful memories induced a desire for safety - routine. She filled her glass once more and non-verbally offered to do the same for Raffie. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'm not sure what to do about all of this, but it seems you've more insight than me on some things here.”[/color] an expectant look was shot Raffaella's way after a hearty gulp of the drink. Far less chic than her younger colleague. [color=#E5E4E2]“Tell me what's been running in your mind.”[/color] [color=palevioletred]"Imam Tikli doesn't deserve to die,"[/color] she observed plainly. So, it would seem she had been privately briefed on that. [color=palevioletred]"He remains a faithful and active steward. He is not tired because he is old, he is tired because he believes politics interfere with his work. So, some powerful people have decided he has outlived his usefulness, I suppose, but that is for the gods to decide."[/color] She took another sip of her wine. [color=palevioletred]"I can tell you my honest opinion, because you know I'm not strong enough to stand in the way of whatever you want to do, right? So if you really want the truth, yes, I had a dream about outside forces interfering in Palapar. But the 'wise and experienced' care nothing for divine inspiration when it contradicts the set of preexisting notions they call an 'education,' so someone with actual muscle on the field needs to go prove it if we want a change of plans. I've nothing against the Sultan, but even I was hesitant to admit that he was right. Others will need more convincing."[/color] Zarina took a deep breath. A relief, but also an exasperation. [color=#E5E4E2]“He doesn't deserve to die, but some believe he should. If you know what I do, then do you think his death would be a boon to our cause?”[/color] she didn't drink this time, she needed to focus. Focus on every gesture made by this person she hardly knew, in truth. [color=#E5E4E2]“Dream or not,”[/color] she did end up drinking again, but only to mimic her counterpart without even thinking of the drink. [color=#E5E4E2]“our good friend Tku has proven that. The question is: What do you propose? Do we go with the Sultan's plan? Do we even want to?”[/color] question after question, as if she never even knew this person from the start. Then again, this Raffaella was not the Raffie she had shared victories and hardships with. [color=palevioletred]"Well... To begin with, Osman really doesn't want him to die in his heart of hearts, does he? It was just a pretense for the next stage of the plan, I thought. So, if it's not going to work anyway... nothing good can come of it, I think."[/color] She certainly appeared to be genuinely considering Zarina's query, if only to be respectful of her perspective, though her own was biased. Still, that childlike expression was an infuriating poker face, too. [color=palevioletred]"I don't know. I really don't know. All I can do is continue to fulfil the role I've been given. I do have my security detail. If I stay close to the Imam, that can buy us some time. I could try talking Ren down, but honestly, I think he's just using me. He doesn't believe in my dreams, either."[/color] She gave Zarina a meaningful look as she said that last word. [color=palevioletred]"If you want to go through with this, Zazzy, I won't use my dreams as an excuse not to give it my all. But, I've given you my honest belief. I think we will lose Palapar. All we can do is minimize our losses. Or... we could strategize our losses."[/color] Her eyes flicked away towards her wine, evasively. This wasn't an easy position to be in. Zarina's only real ally happened to be a girl who determined her decisions and outcomes of events through dreams. The world had never felt lonelier for the young dragon. [color=#E5E4E2]“I will not act with the notion of inevitable loss, Raffie.”[/color] she stated firmly, her attention removed from the glass of wine that tempted her more and more to zone out everything in this very moment. [color=#E5E4E2]“We'll get ahead of whatever machinations are at play. We may take losses, but I [b]will[/b] fight for Palapar. We need everything we have to survive the coming storm, as a country.”[/color] The oldest of the two ran her fingers through her hair to tight them into an improvised bun. She had grown tired of it getting in the way of her eyes. It made her look more exhausted - no, more defeated than she really was. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'm glad you haven't fallen for the madness the brass has fallen into - that this is over because they've caught a few rebels.”[/color] she forced a smile, one that radiated something that was genuine. Was it entirely? Likely not, but there was a serenity gained from at least being heard. [color=#E5E4E2]“It's nice to have a friend.”[/color] Zarina cleared her throat and continued. [color=#E5E4E2]“There's a good chance the ball is something they'll gun for. And likely not with improvised tactics. If what we believe is true, we may be seeing an attack backed by our enemies targeting the pillars of leadership. I'd like to stop that, but I cannot do this alone. And I sense I'm not going to have many fans when I fearmonger.”[/color] Raffaella took a deep breath and exhaled. [color=palevioletred]"Okay, Zazzy. Okay."[/color] She nodded sadly, appearing every bit the young girl in need of guidance that Zarina had remembered from the Trials. If there was a positive interpretation to be made of the girl's delusion, perhaps she had a reliable gut feeling that something was wrong, and the dreams were just a coping mechanism to give herself more confidence. [color=palevioletred]"I'll support you, Zazzy, because you're my friend. A [i]real[/i] friend. Your eyes tell me so."[/color] She nodded to herself and smiled. [color=palevioletred]"I'll go to the ball. Let me take the heat for being scared. You can be the brave heroine who investigates a young lady's unfounded fears and figures it all out in the end."[/color] It was an herculean task to not see the person before Zarina as the same child she had looked after during the trials. The mannerisms were there, but the intent behind her words had actual weight. It was uncanny, like something else was piloting this individual. Still, Zazzy was neither clever enough nor callous enough to doubt it was more than eccentricities and the natural result of 'growing up'. [color=#E5E4E2]“I appreciate your support. It means ... A lot. Especially when I know I won't be miss popular for much longer when this is all over.”[/color] big exhale, like Raffie's. [color=#E5E4E2]“However, are you sure your place should be in the ball? If our fears are accurate, it will be a mess. A dangerous one.”[/color] Zarina scoot closed, dragging her chair in a clumsy and almost infantile manner to close the gap between herself and Raffaella. An empathetic if a tad awkward hand reached out to touch the other's shoulder. [color=#E5E4E2]“The last thing I want is one of my only friends on this island to get hurt. Do you reckon the Imam may be in danger as well?”[/color] Any time Zarina touched Raffie, it was striking just how small she was. The fluff and frills almost seemed to take up more space than she did. [color=palevioletred]"...Yes. But he... I, um..."[/color] She seemed to consider her words. [color=palevioletred]"He is prepared to die. He accepts it. I don't want it, but... so long as I draw breath, I minister to the living, not the dead. If you need me there, I'll go. I don't want the Imam to die, but if protecting him only slows you down and delays the inevitable... am I wrong? If this is the path you've chosen, I'll sincerely do my best. You'll be there, right? So I won't be scared, then. ...No pressure. I mean, I'll be 'scared,' for our purposes, but not really."[/color] Raffaella coaxed a smile from Zarina that grew in size the more she talked. There was familiarity, now that all the prose and metaphors were done with. Was this truly Raffie? She would not know, but it worked in softening the silver dragon. [color=#E5E4E2]“How about you choose where you'll do best?”[/color] emotion trumped over strategy and reason, one of Zarina's many flaws. Like an orange cat far too easily brought to showing its underbelly. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'll be at the ball. I must be. It's where our vital decision makers will be. If you feel better suited to be with me there, so be it. If you think your actions can make a difference toward the Imam's situation, then you have my blessing.”[/color] A deep inhale, and then an exhale. Careful breathing seemed to be a theme here. Zarina spoke again. [color=#E5E4E2]“I would rather not sacrifice a good man for our victory, no matter how slim or impossible it might be. If your intuition is true, his death would be meaningless anyway.”[/color] Raffie shook her head sadly. [color=palevioletred]"I can only get in the way of those who would do him harm. I cannot change their minds."[/color] Her eyes widened, as if she'd only just thought of something. [color=palevioletred]"They may just as quickly come after me. That he is in less danger with me there might just be a tempting fantasy, beckoning me away from what I need to do. Your resolve is real. I trust it more."[/color] She reached up and took Zarina's hand. [color=palevioletred]"But if I must confess, we don't seem to be communicating very well here. We seem to be talking in circles, and I can't make sense of it. Truly we must protect our 'decision makers' if we can't decide something like this on our own. Unless there's something troubling you that you're not telling me about, and that's the real reason why you don't want me at the ball."[/color] She peered up at Zarina curiously. The demeanor changed, but the same cogs were turning. Perhaps Raffie really was a child at heart, and the students of Ersand'Enise, far away from the stuffy politics of Virang, had been privileged to see it. The mistake they had made was in taking her for a fool. [color=palevioletred]"Why won't you be 'miss popular' anymore?"[/color] Zarina squeezed the much smaller hand. Her lips pursed like she was holding something back. She addressed the last question first. [color=#E5E4E2]“Our friends are watching all of this very closely. My efforts to win this will not only earn some the scorn of those with lofty ideals, but also our very chain of command is about to hear it from me. This conflict is drawing a hard line in the sand and I fear I'll be standing opposite to many of those I hold dear. It hurts, you know?”[/color] she let out a long nasal sigh before seizing the entire bottle with her idle hand and crudely drank from it. [color=#E5E4E2]“Which is why, as I step in a world where my circle of friends may dwindle, I could not take losing more of them.”[/color] the squeeze strengthened even more, not quite enough to be uncomfortable. [color=#E5E4E2]“If our enemies go in hard during that ball, I won't be able to keep our priorities safe if they were to put YOU in danger too. My own priorities will be predictably in your favor.”[/color] Raffie's eyes drifted from Zarina's face to the bottle in her hands. [color=palevioletred]"I see. So I'd be in the way. That stings a little. But, I do get it. I'm not strong like you are, Zazz. But, can't you share this burden with me even a little? I'm already not very popular. I don't have any friends besides you and Ayla."[/color] Raffaella was right, Zarina saw a weaker addition as a liability. But this was a concern born of only emotion, in truth she would need the numbers. [color=#E5E4E2]“I remember how easily scared you were during that last trial. When Desmond met countless dreadful fates. Ipte forsake him that day.”[/color] she let out a half-hearted chuckle. Those weren't the best memories, even if they were good times. [color=#E5E4E2]“I guess I still see you as the junior of the team.”[/color] she went to take another sip but abstained just as her lips were about to meet the bottle. [color=#E5E4E2]“We made a pretty good team, didn't we?”[/color] she flashed a complicit grin. [color=#E5E4E2]“Okay. Think you you can have my back?”[/color] Raffie pursed her lips, trying not to laugh. [color=palevioletred]"Oh, yeah! Des'm was nice to me too, but I haven't seen him in a while,"[/color] she mused. [color=palevioletred]"Of course we made a good team. We were the [i]best[/i] team. Like, objectively. It was a whole thing,"[/color] she said, as if declining to tell a long story to someone who wasn't there. Then she, also, smiled complicitly. She used her free hand to fish for her enchanted rosary. A sound like a static discharge sounded off as she grabbed it, and a strange warmth flowed through Raffie's hand and into Zarina's. [color=palevioletred]"Of course I'll have your back, Zazzy, if you'll have me."[/color] Good feelings all around, and Zarina was only tipsy too. Inebriated just enough to miss that unusual sound but aware enough to feel the warmth. Her features mellowed and the bottle was put back on the table - enough for one night. [color=#E5E4E2]“Then it's settled, we're jumping into hell, hand-in-hand.”[/color] Zarina leaned back and sagged into her seat. [color=#E5E4E2]“We're going to win. We were supposed to fail our revolution, but we won. We'll win this too.”[/color] her eyes had drifted away to nothing in particular, like she wasn't talking to anyone specific. [color=#E5E4E2]“There're spare bedrooms in here. I'd lie if I said a familiar presence wouldn't leave me less paranoid at night.”[/color] [color=palevioletred]"I hope so, Zazzy."[/color] Even Raffie couldn't help but feel a little encouraged by Zarina's bold statement about the revolution, something which seemed so distant now. It certainly wasn't [i]impossible[/i] that the outcome of a prophetic dream could be changed, but the more people were affected by it, the greater the change of course needed to avert it. Her mother's diary spoke of such possibilities. Would warning Zarina really change much, though? It didn't change her endgame, she decided. She didn't need to be strong enough to change the outcome, she just needed to be [i]right.[/i] If they succeeded, it needed to be because Zarina had believed in her dream warning them in advance. If they failed, she just needed to survive and minimize Virang's losses, and ensure that the losses served her and her allies rather than the enemy within. Losing Zarina wasn't something she could afford. At least, that was what she believed. Was it based in emotion, or tactics? She'd made an agreement with herself to set the thought aside for now. Zarina didn't believe in her dreams, but at least she wouldn't stand in the way of her dreams, nor did she gaze upon her with eyes of scorn like so many others. [color=palevioletred]"How could I say no to that face?"[/color] Raffie said, mirroring something Zarina had also probably said to her before. [color=palevioletred]"You know, I think I've also spooked myself a little with all this talk of assassins. The idea of sleeping alone really isn't appealing to me, either."[/color]