As the winners were announced at the Magicka Competition, Imperia had kept their eyes fixed on Kin-kin. As the winners were announced, they were quick to see how the wolf reacted. Her glow stopped, and she was quick to walk away on stiff legs. Imperia watched for a moment before going after her. Someone would have to cheer the wolf up. And that someone had to be them.

"Kin-kin, wait!" They rushed to keep up with her, ignoring everyone else around them.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin kept up a slinking pace- brisk, but not much faster than a trot. Her head was lowered and the fur along her neck had prickled upright. Her golden ears were lowered towards her neck. She didn’t look back until the magicka competition and all the other contestants were far behind her, finally slowing to a halt beside the crystal river, where she lowered her head, panting, to look at her reflection by the water’s edge. Even then, she sniffed back the moisture blurring her gaze.

Finally, she raised her head, looking back the way she’d come. She’d heard Imperia call her name, but didn’t expect the caracal to follow. They’d feel everything anyway; all the humiliation and disappointment, and the numbing ache of defeat... though, bitterly, she wished that wasn’t the case. They’d been rivals once; their relationship was built around the heat of the moment and the thrill of battle. Kin-Kin’s feelings right now were nothing if not weakness. And wasn’t weakness the one thing Imperia despised?

Kin-Kin tried desperately to close her feelings off, lying down at the water’s edge. She curled up into a ball and, for the first time since she was a cub, used her cloak to hide her face.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia did their best to ignore the onslaught of emotions coursing through her, all coming from Kin-kin. And then suddenly, they seemed to stop. They were still there, though...less. With a frown, they walked faster until they were nearly running after the golden wolf.

When they finally saw her, curled up in a ball and hiding in her cloak, something seemed to snap inside them. They'd never seen Kin-kin like this. She's always been proud, head held high, walking with purpose. Not curled up in a ball and hiding her face. They walked over to her and sat down beside her, unsure of what to do.

After a moment, they lay down beside Kin-kin, pressing their fur against her and her cloak. They weren't good with words, so maybe for now they could just...provide support. It may not be much, but it was something.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin could do nothing for a while but lie, curled up, face hidden. When finally she moved, it was the simple points of two ears pricking beneath the ragged blue fabric. She’d felt the brush of Imperia’s fur against her own, and a few moments later a golden muzzle emerged, sullen eyes examining the caracal gravely.

She tried to avoid their gaze in a moment of awkwardness, unsure of how to respond to the contact. She swished her tail to smooth her cape and looked out over the crystal river, still looking troubled but refusing to cry, especially in front of Imperia. Finally, the wolf let out a low chuckle. ”It’s stupid, really. Ain’t it?” she asked, still gazing out at the gently rushing river and the lights. ”no matter how much ya practice... no matter how good ya get... it’s all just chance, really. I lost to a bunch of kids! Can you believe it?”

She let out a breath, as though she’d been holding it, the faintest trace of a glow coming into her form, visible only as the shadow faded beneath her. ”Heh-heh. I knew I shoulda judged. Quit whilst I was ahead, y’know?” She dropped her head to the ground, laying it on her forepaws, her tail flicking sadly against her haunches.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia listened as Kin-kin spoke, not saying anything for a moment. They noted Kin-kin's refusal to meet their eye, but thought little of it. They waited until her lay her head on the ground, on her forepaws, before saying anything.

"This is why I don't like magic," they started, though soon realized they didn't know what to say. They'd never done this. They were shit at comforting anyone, and they knew it would be obvious. But they also knew Kin-kin needed someone. And Imperia was that someone. "It's unpredictable. You can go your whole life practicing your magic, becoming the best, and some stupid little kid ends up with more luck than you the one time it mattered."

They looked down at her head. "C'mon, look at me. You're Kin-kin. You're not one to go hiding just because something didn't go the way you wanted it to. I don't care about the results of that stupid competition. To me, you're still the best. You always will be. I know you've been working your whole life at all this magic. And you'll continue to work. And you'll continue to be the best."

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: this just in: apparently imperia can be a bit of a sap when it comes to it

Kin-Kin chuckled softly at Imperia’s initial response. ”I suppose so,” she said. ”Maybe that’s why in the end, I ditched battle magic for a sword. Light isn’t the... hardest-hitting magic type, after all. But in the same vein, I suppose, ya never know if you’re ever gonna hit. Ya might run into someone who’s small and fast, who can bite your ankles and dodge your strikes without batting a lash.”

There was a trace of humour in her tone, only slightly overshadowed by resentment.

She looked at Imperia on their command, meeting their gaze evenly, qnd with the tiniest of smiles tweaking the edge of her lips. She couldn’t help but flush beneath her fur, and was silent for a time before offering a wink. ”Didn’t think I’d ever hear ya talk like that, ‘specially not to me. Then again, I never thought I’d ever be knocked down from my perch as magickal champion.” Saying the words made her wince, as though she was admitting it to herself, and she paused before her gaze flicked back to the caracal. She brightened slightly, both in posture and in light. ”What am I gonna call myself now?”

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia flicked an ear as Kin-kin spoke. "I almost wish I had made myself a sword. I'll admit it was a good idea. Definitely better than just using light magic. Though I've got fire magic, which...works just fine for me."

Later, as Kin-kin spoke again, they blinked before chuckling. "Never thought I'd hear myself say that. It's true, though. You don't need some competition to tell you you're the best." At her question, they paused. They had noticed the way she brightened, and hoped that she was feeling better now.

"Call yourself the best. It's still what you are; that hasn't changed." A smile was directed at her. It had always felt odd to them, smiling. But somethings just caused it to happen, and sometimes they couldn't stop it.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

Kin-Kin winked. Imperia's admission to her skills awakened a signature spark of pride within her, and it was a part of her nature to indulge it. "Well, if you want one for yourself, you know who to ask. You'd be first in line." Kin-Kin pushed herself up into a sitting position, shaking her shoulders until her fur fell into place, and her cloak alongside. Whilst she still seemed slightly down, she looked a lot more like her old self.

She appeared to think for a while, ears lowering before her gaze returned to Imperia. "Mhhmm," she murmured, as though deeply considering the words she wanted to say. Would her pride allow it? For a moment it was unclear. Finally, the wolf appeared to come to a decision, and bowed her head slightly, though not in agreement. "In the beginning, it was... the title of champion that gave me my pride. Before that, it was all fake. Yeah, that was... after we first fought." Kin-Kin paused, remembering the act she'd put on, to appear so careless and carefree, and the change in her that that first battle had brought. She smirked vaguely. "I guess I need to learn how to... y'know, rely less on all these fancy titles. I always thought they made me look better, but... losing 'em feels so much worse."

Kin-Kin grinned at the caracal's answer to her question. "Kin-Kin. Demigod of light, and... 'the best'. Doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?" she joked, winking once more, and then breaking into a chuckle.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia

Imperia chuckled. "I think I'll leave the sword to you. It suits you better, anyway. Fire's always been more my thing." They managed to barely conceal the sigh of relief as Kin-kin began to look more like her usual self, fur and cloak falling into place as she sat up.

They flicked an ear. "Keep faking it if you have to. Though really, it doesn't seem fake now. You don't need titles. Live without 'em for a change, see how it feels."

Another chuckle. "Alright, so maybe it's not the best. Whatever. You don't need titles anyway."

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Kin-kin
notes: here

"Fair enough. I gotta admit, I do think it's far more impressive when it's unique to me." she smirked. "The offer still stands though, if you run into trouble that can't be burned alive." Her eyes glittered with a little spark of amusement. Her gaze flickered momentarily across Imperia's feline form, and a moment later, Kin-Kin spoke again. "I bet it'd make you look pretty rugged.... not that you aren't already."

She shrugged, although seemed somewhat reluctant. "I suppose I could give it a go. But I don't wanna be just... another so-and-so." she already felt a little naked, thinking of using her name alone. "Hmmm. Demigod and master of light, perhaps. I might njot be a champion, but I've still trained in light as long as I've been alive."

She looked a little guilty, as Imperia continued to insist on giving up her titles. But in a way, Kin-Kin was afraid to. She didn't remember ever meeting another who boasted a distinguishing title and wore it proudly, like a banner of their own proud achievements. She sighed softly. "Well, we'll just see."

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Imperia