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"Witches all have two names," it occurs to Ranata to say. "We mostly use the first, unless we're being formal or distinguishing between two with the same first name, and then it's both. Ranata Ekamma; Isabella Amariah. Like that. What's your full name?"
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kindestgarden
"Nope, not a bit," confirms Ranata. "Might make it hard for you to transport Lecasryn comfortably, but she can go under her own power now you're separated."
headunbowed
"Hurray! Lecasryn, you cool with flying?"
"Yes," replies her daemon from wingsnuggles, happily.
"Alright. Then naked I shall be! This is fun."
"Yes," replies her daemon from wingsnuggles, happily.
"Alright. Then naked I shall be! This is fun."
kindestgarden
"All right then." Ranata flies her to go looking for the queen.
Eventually the queen is located. She appears to be making arrows.
Eventually the queen is located. She appears to be making arrows.
headunbowed
Zeviana will wait until addressed! Because she's still on her best behavior, though it bothers her a little. She'll put up with it for awesome witch clan.
kindestgarden
"Hello again," says the queen. "How have you passed the intervening hours?"
headunbowed
"I've fixed the mint, rosemary, and most of the watercress fields to be weed-free - they should stay like that for years, but the watercress I'm less sure about, I ran out of mana before I could finish it properly. Then after that," Zeviana grins, "I got to know some of your clan members. I like you guys, you're fun."
kindestgarden
Zeviana might miss Ranata nodding slightly to confirm and the queen's daemon glancing at her to see it.
"If you would like to take the clan mark," says the queen, "and act as one of us, I would be disposed to have you."
"If you would like to take the clan mark," says the queen, "and act as one of us, I would be disposed to have you."
headunbowed
"And I would be inclined to take it. Is there any - duties or anything that come with it that I should know about?"
This is a delicate way of asking, 'I'm not going to become basically your minion, right?'
This is a delicate way of asking, 'I'm not going to become basically your minion, right?'
kindestgarden
"When I ask something reasonable of a clan member," says the queen, raising one eyebrow slightly, "I expect to be obliged. If there is a war within your lifetime I will expect you to be on our side in whatever capacity can best use you. I do not expect to take up much of your time or ask anything distasteful to you."
headunbowed
"Okay, making sure. Thank you for being wonderfully sane, I'm still getting used to that bit. Those sound like reasonable things to request. In that case - I'm up for it."
kindestgarden
"Then I'll go prepare some ink for the tattoo." She gets up and starts walking; her daemon clings to a trailing end of silk for a moment, then lets go and flies to her shoulder. (She's wearing the silk tied differently and more elaborately than Ranata or Isabella.)
Ranata follows.
Ranata follows.
headunbowed
Zeviana does, too. She will probably need help on how to tie silks, later. To look properly witchy.
kindestgarden
They travel to one of the unassuming combination-of-wood-and-rocks buildings that are scattered around the lands. The queen ducks into it; Ranata motions that she and Zeviana stay outside.
Shortly after the queen comes out with a bowl and a thin paintbrush. "This doesn't exactly tickle when I spell it to sink in," she says. "But it's over in a moment. Wrist, please."
Shortly after the queen comes out with a bowl and a thin paintbrush. "This doesn't exactly tickle when I spell it to sink in," she says. "But it's over in a moment. Wrist, please."
headunbowed
Outside she stays! The wrist is produced as requested. "All right."
kindestgarden
The queen paints with a careful, practiced hand until there is a damp clan symbol on her wrist. Then she puts the bowl and brush down and murmurs tightly rhymed verse. It's not in English, but Zeviana's under a translation spell:
"Mark this witch
As one of mine
As one of ours
Mark this witch
For all to know
Where she may call home
With our symbol."
And then the tattoo stings like crazy - and then it's just dry pigment across her skin.
"Mark this witch
As one of mine
As one of ours
Mark this witch
For all to know
Where she may call home
With our symbol."
And then the tattoo stings like crazy - and then it's just dry pigment across her skin.
headunbowed
Zeviana winces, but doesn't flinch or make any other sound when the spell goes. She eyes her new tattoo appreciatively.
"Pretty. Thank you, I'm honored to be a part of your clan."
"Pretty. Thank you, I'm honored to be a part of your clan."
kindestgarden
"You're welcome here," says the queen. "And to help yourself to the things here within reason. Likewise if someone of the clan wants your help..." She makes an illustrative gesture. "That is what it's for."
headunbowed
"Of course," says Zeviana agreeably. "Fair's fair."
She grins. "I'm going to love it here, you don't have the stupid sh- er, stuff that mortals come with. This is great!"
She grins. "I'm going to love it here, you don't have the stupid sh- er, stuff that mortals come with. This is great!"
kindestgarden
The queen smiles slightly. "I am pleased that you are glad to be among us." And she makes a little incline of her head, and her and her daemon are heading off into the woods.
"Congratulations," laughs Ranata, and she holds out her arms in an offer of a hug.
"Congratulations," laughs Ranata, and she holds out her arms in an offer of a hug.
headunbowed
Hug! "Eeeee I'm an honorary witch-clan member! I can just wander around naked in an entire area and no one will care! I can ignore money in favor of something more useful! There are hot witches here and no one minds if I take advantage of that! Eeee!"
She is excited.
She is excited.
headunbowed
"I owe my brother a hug, he is a good brother for finding this plane. He should get a prize."
kindestgarden
"My daughter's not a good enough plane-finding prize?" teases Ranata.
headunbowed
Zeviana laughs. "Fair enough! But she's not a prize to be handed off, she is a bonus that he is delighted to find."