To recap, Tenebella is the daughter of Rhadamanthus the Grim (MFA), Realmgard’s resident Dark Lord kinda guy — though I’m envisioning him as more “harsh but reasonable” or even “scary, but not evil” than “cackling supervillain” or “Satanic archetype“; so, basically, more like, say, a Fantasy version of Julius Caesar or Oda Nobunaga than Dr. Doom or Sauron.
The basic inspiration for the “Dark Sorceress tries to be normal” is from one of the support conversations in Fire Emblem Awakening, where Hot Witch Tharja tries (and fails) to effect an, um, affect of deliberate normalcy to make herself more appealing to the player character.
But whereas Tharja is trying to get Robin to love her, Tenebella really just wants a friend…
“I knit you a sweater,” Tenebella tells Kat. “For, you see, you and I are the dearest of bosom companions.”
“Please don’t talk about bosoms,” Kat murmurs, blushing deeply.
“The sweater is therefore a sign of my affection for you,” Tenebella says.
“No offence,” Kat says. “But knitting a sweater doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you’d be into, Tenebella.”
A faint blush creeps into Tenebella’s pale cheeks. “I am endeavouring to present myself as more Normal.”
“Normal?”
“Yes,” Tenebella says. “Since coming to Porthaven, I have been told that people find my demeanour off-putting. I am told I am aloof and intimidating. Also, Mother is telling me to smile more.”
Her face shifts tentatively, into something that Kat thinks is supposed to be a smile…
“No comment,” Kat murmurs, blushing deeply.
“Also,” Tenebella continues, unfurling the sweater. “Please note that the sweater has a dragon.”
“Well, I do like dragons,” Kat says, reaching for the sweater.
Tenebella watches eagerly as Kat pulls on the sweater.
“How is it? Does it fit well? Are the sleeves too long?” Tenebella asks.
“No,” Kat says as her head emerges from the collar. “Seems good.”
“Is it too itchy?” Tenebella continues. “I assure you, I sourced only the finest wool from the choicest mammoths of my father’s herds.”
“M-mammoths?” Kat asks.
“Yes. The Common Ansangaarian Mammoth has been domesticated from time immemorial. They are, in fact, quite docile and provide wool, cheese, and excellent shock cavalry,” Tenebella explains.
Kat stares blankly.
“Additionally, I then treated the wool in the tears of one hundred maidens weeping over the latest volume of Happenings at Bridgewaltonshire Priory to ensure both suppleness and to wards you from any curses which your enemies may call the Chthonic Deities to visit upon you,” Tenebella continues.
Kat stares blankly.
“Well, uh, thanks for the sweater,” Kat offers weakly. “We, uh, we should head out. Amara will be mad at us — well, um, mostly you — if we’re late for tea.”
“You are welcome,” Tenebella says. “May I give you a hug, since that is normal behaviour for normal friends?”
“Sure,” Kat says.
Tenebella moves forward to embrace Kat.
“Am I doing it properly?” Tenebella asks. “Is this the normal way that normal people normally hug?”
“Close enough,” Kat says. “But word of advice — normal people don’t talk about how Normal they are.”
“Noted,” Tenebella says. “If I may be honest, being normal is exhausting.”
“We’re friends,” Kat offers. “You don’t have to be normal around me. Just be you.”
“Thank you, Kat,” Tenebella says, blushing deeply. “A value your friendship tremendously.”
“So, yeah,” Kat says. “Time for tea.”
“Oh,” Amara says as Kat and Tenebella enter Amara’s sitting room. “What a darling sweater!”
“Yeah,” Kat murmurs, blushing deeply. “It was a gift from Tenebella.”
Amara glowers at Tenebella and possessively grabs Kat’s arm.
“Are you growling?” Kat asks.
“I do apologise,” Amara says — though she’s still clinging to Kat’s arm. “I’m merely staking my claim as Katherine’s best and dearest friend.”
Cue Angry Amara Noises…
Also, it wasn’t on purpose, but “Being normal is exhausting” is, like, the most Autistic thing I have ever written…
Cottage Week is not conducive to writing. Cottage Week is also not conducive to tracking the Linear Progression of Time, so I kinda surprised myself that it’s been a week.
Week 1 recap is coming later today.
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