The North PacificBoard

Rose's silent tears slowly begin to fade as she listens to Tanya's whisper, the warmth with which she speaks unlike anything previously spoken by her, comforting Rose as she listens to Tanya's story. "My Lady Tanyaa" The unspoken words echoed through Rose's mind as Tanya began to tell the tale of her childhood, a tale that made her feel both horrified and sad. "So much hardship, so much pain, and to give away part of her humanity" Rose tried her utmost to comprehend what it was like for Tanya and what she had been through "I will do anything to keep what is mine" Rose could feel that Tanya had meant her, or at least partially, and Rose felt much safer with the comforting warmth of Tanya's body as she embraced her, and at last, as Tanya's explanation breaks into a soft sob, Rose finally understood her actions, "She killed them, to protect me" Rose was not sure how to feel about it, as part of her was terrified that Tanya would murder anyone over the slightest suspicion regarding Rose, but at the same time, she felt safe, for if Tanya would go that far for her, she would always be hers.

As Tanya began to cry, the terrible memories of the past and the feelings for the girl overtaking her, Rose swept her arms around her, embracing her in a loving hug, like she remembered her mother had done when she was young, "My dearest Lady Tanyaa" Rose whispered gently into Tanya's ear, hoping to comfort her as she had done for Rose, "I can understand the differences in our past, and the hardship you have endured, as it is what guides you" she paused, suppressing her own tears before continuing, "But I will never be able to accept that you kill, for the very same reason as you do it" she wiped a teardrop from Tanya's cheek as she met her gaze, "I come from a place where the death of a single individual is devastating, where life is the most important thing there is, and I can not stand to see people murdered, as life is the most precious thing known to me" she tried to explain, but she didn't know how to carry on, but the words seemed to have helped.

Their affectionate embrace was suddenly interrupted as an announcement rang out, and Tanya, seemingly recovering from her sadness, spoke up once more, and with hopeful eyes and a shaky, stretched out arm, gave Rose a choice, "Clothes are ready, we should change here now because we have no time to go back to our room... Would you please take my hand... if you have... feelings-"

Rose had already made up her mind, and without hesitation or second thought, she grasped Tanya's hand, ignoring the blood that had stained her beloved's skin, and pulled them together, softly answering Tanya's unspoken question, "My dearest Lady Tanyaa, what I feel for you is something I cannot explain, and although I feel terrified by the actions you have taken, it cannot change the way I feel for you" she paused, trying to remember the words Tanya had used, "and I promise to you, my dear Lady Tanyaa, that I will be yours, no matter what deeds you do, what terrible actions you take, I will love you until the end of timee" she softly dragged out the sound of the final e as she looked towards the beautiful attire they had been provided, "and my dear Lady Tanyaa" she carried on, changing the subject completely, "I believe we should change" she stated, and with a nod of approval from her love, she moved to the dresses, and to Tanya's surprise, having taken her words literally, Rose immediately began to strip down from her clothing, and within short, she was fully dressed in the beautiful dress, the strange hat arranged as best she could on her head, and soon enough, they were ready. As they left the dining hall hand in hand, Rose felt a new rush of confidence, and soon, they stood face to face with the bulkhead that separated them from the city of Nordlando.