[Video] V

[1mistress_nomaster]

 [She's looking less tired now, sitting on her bed with the windows behind her. Back to her normal colourful dresses and neatly bound up hair, save for the odd curl that escapes. Her little sewing decoration is tied around her wrist now though, all finished. Testament to how much nothing keeps her outwardly down for long.]

Since there's so many new people arrived, treat this as an announcement of sorts to extend my services. I'm Elizabeth, I'm in room 601 and I sew. I can fix any rips in your clothes, alter them, or if given material, I can make some things within reason. I'm out of practise, so to speak. Large projects take time, resources, so on so forth. I suspect those of you that can would be better off buying things in the city across the river. 

[Which no, she doesn't want modern clothes just yet. She feels naked already thinking about not having corsets.]

But all that aside, for sewing purposes, I'll be leaving a basket outside my door, leave whatever it is that needs fixing there with an indication to who it belongs to, and I should have it done within the day, if there's not too much. [... and she grows stern for a moment, speaking like she did to her advisors. Flat, stern and rather grave.] And I'd ask you not to steal each others clothes. Because it's a headache I do not even want to think about, I'd hope there is some measure of trust between us all. [It's a common enough event to her, because of the sheer amount of jewels sewn into clothing, or in the lower classes, just having clothes at all meant a great deal of stealing.] 

Oh and master Dextera? I've finished translating the evening prayers for you. I'd play the Kyrie for you to hear, but I have no instrument, the best I could is sing, but I am even more out of practise with that then I am sewing. [Laughs at little.] Come collect them whenever you wish, I'm in my room at present.

[Private to Cross] 

... I don't want to hear otherwise about this. You're taking my jewels, the hair pins are all diamonds. I sold one, and I got much too little for it. But my lord Tyki assured me that such things have not lost their value, and there is another six. I don't know how much the pearls will fetch, but it should be something. You'll get a much better price for them then I will with my poor Russian. [She's keeping her face blank about this, but stern.] There is much better uses for them then adornment. 

Comments

<3

[counterintel]

Hm.

[Except it was. He was grateful, truth be told. He still hasn't really settled here, certain that he would be following Shisui back home any time now.]

It's fine. You're working.

[Have a smile in return, before he reaches forward, picking up a needle and the thread.]

Have you been working long?

/lays all over.

[1mistress_nomaster]

Ah, just this morning. My lord Kanda gave me his shirt and vest to work on. They're... in rather bad condition. So. There's that... and I am altering some of my dresses before it gets even hotter and I melt.

[Because she wasn't going to survive much more of the heat if she didn't.]

/cuddles!

[counterintel]

He's been here a while. [He's not surprised. Without the comforts of a proper community it's difficult to keep on top of things.]

That would be awful.

[It's said with a smile, and he watches calmly for a few minutes before threading his needle and starting work on his shirt.]

/purrrr

[1mistress_nomaster]

He has, and his clothes show that. [She didn't like the thought of anyone living on the streets, even those she didn't get along. As far as she saw it, all they had was each other in this place.]

It is, England... does not get hot, at least not like it seems to get here. I thought Russia was meant to be colder than this... but I suppose it does back onto a desert on one side. [From what she remembered of stories at least. The travellers to and from China, mostly.]

[counterintel]

Ah, they certainly do. [He hopes to take much better care of his things.]

Something else to adapt to? [A quick glance up from his work to offer her a smile, it's easy, caring.]

[1mistress_nomaster]

[She pulls another stitch through.] He's been here a long time I believe.

Indeed. Too much more though, and I shall hardly know myself. [She laughs though, even if it is a great deal of an issue for her. She'd not said much about how often she felt lost, but then what was there to do about it?]

[counterintel]

My brother mentioned that he'd been here a few years now. [The thought is difficult to come to terms with, but come to terms with it, he must.]

You only know yourself after you've been through these things.

[1mistress_nomaster]

I think a few of them have... [She bit her lip, thinking of it. How horrible.]

I do know myself, and what I am is a Queen, country or not. Which is just a arrogant way of saying, I'll spill my blood before I admit defeat because of my advisors and their schemes, or some horrid little girl and being 400 years out of my own time. [She pulled a face.] And by what mark do you know yourself, my lord?

[counterintel]

Unsettling, isn't it? [He can read you, Elizabeth. It's not hard]

I'm a ninja. To work in the shadows for the good of my village. That's my intention.

[Just like Shisui.]

[1mistress_nomaster]

[She looked up at him through her lashes for a moment, hand stilling in her work.] Yes, it is. [Quick, aren't you Itachi?]

[She smiled though, at his words.] You sound like my lord Wolsingham, he's no... ah 'ninja', but he's... well, secrets, shadows and protecting me are his business. [She smiles fondly at the thought of him too. Monster some called him, but he was her monster, and she protected her own.]

[counterintel]

[He just nods, because it's all very weird for him-- with his brother here, older than he should have been, and seeing Shisui again for such a brief time... Passing the time certainly isn't as easy as it was back home. Readying himself. This just seems to be like prolonging the experience. Knowing what he was going back to.

None of it shows though, but he just smiles instead, pleased to be able to bring a smile to her face.]

It's important.

[1mistress_nomaster]

[She could find out what she has to go back to. She just doesn't want to. Because to be remembered, like people seemed to, meant something had to happen. History didn't make special note of useless female rulers.]

I am kept safe by boys like you, in England any case, so I can appreciate it in a way different to most. [There was just a brief flicker of regret there. Fervantely but mostly privately, she wished it was different some how. It wasn't, and wouldn't be, but it didn't stop her wishing regardless.]

[counterintel]

[The temptation must be difficult to battle...]

Mn.

[Because being given an order to massacre your entire clan for the good of your 'kingdom' is to be something to be thanked for. He's just going to stay quiet. Sorry.]

[1mistress_nomaster]

[It was a bit like being a recovering alcohol in a room with exceedingly expensive wine and being told it was all paid for.

She's already ordered people killed in cold blood. Little shocks her anymore. Her sister killed people on masse and no one stopped her. So did her father. Priests even, and she loved her father and sister.]

It gets so hard though, to do my duty. Some days I just want to go back... especially lately... [paused, as she focused on getting the needle in the right spot.] People kill for my position, I'd give it all up for that place in Moore's book. Peace is worth it.

[counterintel]

[He manages to listen to her, with difficulty. He knows what kind of life is waiting for him back home-- it doesn't exactly make him want to leave this place just yet.]

Staying here just feels like prolonging the pain.

[Because he was in pain... There was no other way to describe it.]

[1mistress_nomaster]

[She thinks on that awhile in silence. That seemed far too appropriate to her own situation. All that waited for her at home was loneliness, bone grating and for the rest of her life.]

Or perhaps... it's time to adjust, and take what what happiness can be afforded. It's just how one looks at the glass after all. [Half full or half empty. Either way, it must be drunk.] But if you are resigned to your fate, why should you rush for it?

[counterintel]

[He's incredibly mixed up at the moment, though whether that shows or not... at least physically.]

We don't know when we'll go back. I agree that our time here should be made the most of.

[After all, he didn't think he would ever see Sasuke like this again. He'd taught him to hate, as far as he knew - and died at the hands of his little brother.]

[1mistress_nomaster]

No, we don't know.

[She thought a bit longer.]

Do you suppose it is selfish, to form deep attachments with another when you know ultimately it will end? That you or they might be taken at any moment. You may in turn leave someone behind and leave them lonely. Like the others did when their friend left...

[Or Itachi had when Shisui left, but that wasn't her place to say. Not that she seemed to choice much, she simply did. Heart usually ruled over her head when her country wasn't at stake.]

[counterintel]

Hm.

[He had to stop when she stated talking again, letting his hands rest in his lap. These things were so close to home...

Before Shisui had told him of his 'plan' he'd honestly thought they would be best friends for the rest of their lives. He knew that the life expectancy of a ninja was something they all ignored, but he hadn't expected to lose him at such a time. It didn't stop any of them spending time together, enjoying life...]

If we spent life thinking of the things that might happen tomorrow we would never be happy. I don't think it's selfish.

[1mistress_nomaster]

[She was listening, even if she wasn't watching him. Just her way, really, to be secretive about things like that.]

I think I like that response. It makes me feel less cruel. [Because it did feel cruel to love, she felt she had no right any longer. Common women could do that. Common women could love indiscriminately without causing wars too. The mess was in the details.] So... even if it ends badly, you think it's still worth to have what you can for awhile?

[Why on earth she was asking a boy all this, was beyond her. But oddly, brief though their conversations had been. Itachi understood certain things that she'd had to explain otherwise. The simple understanding made it easier perhaps.]

[counterintel]

[He knew how difficult it was to pay attention at times like this - even if he'd been trained to do it.]

If there is some happiness to be gained from a situation then I think the opportunity ought to be taken. There is after all no telling what could happen tomorrow.

[He's determined to think that way, even if he knows he won't be able to from the time he arrives back home.]

fejafjdsk. Shoo Gee! jfieafds THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN

[1mistress_nomaster]

... I suppose you're right.

[The next stitch pulls through, and she was nearly done with this particular rip. Then trying to be diplomatic and as casual as possible...]

And do you take your own advice on such matters? [Because a sadder young man she'd never met. Save perhaps her brother.]

LOL. I saw everything.

[counterintel]

Mn.

[He's not going to be coy about it-- it's good advice and he wishes he could follow it, but there are some things he just can't do.

Her question makes him look up at her, taking a moment to see just how far along she is with the stitching.]

I spend as much time as I can with my brother whilst we're both here.

OH HEY LOOK, A POTATO

[1mistress_nomaster]

[Elizabeth was efficient with her work, no matter what it was, sewing or writing papers, she didn't like to waste time that could be better spent by her or somebody else.

]

... That seems lovely, that you both have your time together. I know how much one can miss a sibling. [Mary and Edward both, she adored them. Even if her sister had tried to execute her.]

OMG WHERE?!

[counterintel]

[He's not sure how to explain the situation, and quite frankly he doesn't want to.

Part of his acceptance of being in this place is to make sure that he enjoys his time to the fullest. Sasuke may have missed him, but he has yet to suffer as he now knows he will.]

It seems odd to be enjoying my time here.