candybox | Ace Attorney voicetest/call me out post

[ things really have been rather strange ever since rayfa became queen. to an outsider, it may seem like what she's done and what she's doing is an easy task, but that's only because of the smiles she has to display when in public. within the confines of the palace and whenever she's alone, she sometimes sits and thinks about things. it's a lot to take in, and while she isn't discounting everything that's happened in the past, she's trying to welcome her actual family in her life now, too.

it's easier with amara. even though rayfa grew up not knowing nayna was actually her mother, they were together and spent time with each other. nahyuta is another issue. to think she has an older brother, and one that was close by, as well. rayfa is happy, of course she is, but to just let somebody in her life like that and for them to have such a close relationship...

it's a bit difficult. and when nahyuta calls out to her all of a sudden, she jumps. ]

You—! [ she forces herself to cut back on her words, and tries to calm herself down. she stops in her tracks to face the prosecutor, shoulders stiff and her expression tense. ] What is it?

[ she may eventually try and push you away, but it's not you, nahyuta. it's her. :( ]

[Nahyuta has come to expect these reactions by now, but as much as he tries to heed their mother's advice and to take it in his stride, he can't help the hurt look that passes across his expression. Still, he knows he has to be patient... He mustn't be sensitive and take it personally.

Easier said than done.]

I wished to accompany you on your daily walk. Not as your humble servant, but merely to... to spend some time with you.

[There, he said it.]

Is this acceptable?

[ rayfa doesn't respond straight away and instead gives nahyuta a lookover before she lets silence surround them. once enough awkward silence has passed, she says, rather impassively: ]

You are free to do what you want.

[ that's the best "yes" she can give him right now without sounding too harsh. and just so he knows what she means, she deliberately moves slower when turning, taking smaller steps this time as she walks to give him time to catch up if he really wants to accompany her.

he's likely seen it countless times by now, even moreso here, but rayfa heads to the gardens of the palace to sit on one of the stone benches. there's a pond in front of it where a giant frog has taken residence. ]

[He dips his head gratefully.]

You are most kind.

[Nahyuta then falls into step with her, and when she takes a seat, settles in beside her on the bench, where he falls into contemplative silence. For all his uncertainties, being in such beautiful surroundings always has a way of setting his mind at ease. Before, he was never able to set foot in the palace beyond what little Ga'ran allowed or required, no doubt to remind the son of a traitor of his place. Now, however...]

For all the horrors these grounds have seen, I think this may be one of the most tranquil places in all of Khura'in. [He looks around, and then down at Rayfa.] It is easy to see why you enjoy spending time here.

[ you can really relax a lot in this place, and it's a good spot to meditate. rayfa doesn't meditate all that often compared to, say, the monks of khura'in, but she does understand what it means to concentrate and be one with your environment. after all, she can't properly perform a seance if her mind and body are not calm.

rayfa does have the inherent tendency to negate nahyuta's personal statements, though. ]

I do not enjoy— [ but she quickly realises that that is a lie, which is why she cuts herself short. ] ...

The palace takes pride in its beautiful gardens, but surely, you must have been aware of that.

[ what with him having lived in the palace years before she was born, after all. her tone has become a bit softer now, but she doesn't give him the eye contact he deserves. instead, she plays with the hem of her skirt, her legs swaying a little. ]

Before I ever set foot here as a prosecutor, I was aware owing only to the details gleaned from Father's stories. I was too young to remember my earliest years here. And after that...

[He hid in the mountains with the Defiant Dragons, even long after Apollo was gone and Rayfa was born. Noting her fidgeting, he simply smiles and leaves his thought unfinished, hoping to set her at ease.]

But that is the past. Time flows ever on, and we too must move with it.

[That's the Khura'inist equivalent of an 'I'm fine!!!'.]

[ well, better than being told to let it go.

she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath at the mention of father. inga had been her father all her life, and to find out that it was actually somebody else. . . it's something to adjust to. she can't ever call dhurke "father" to his face now, which makes things a liiittle bit easier on her, but all of this is still a challenge.

it must be nice, though, to have heard stories from your actual parents. amara tells her stories every now and then, when she asks, but having a brother or a father telling stories would also be nice. ]

It may do you well to walk around, then. For you to be more familiar with the territory.

[ which translates to an invitation to hang out here more, but like hell is she going to be so blunt.

the big frog in the pond hops out of the water and onto the pebbles by the pond. eventually, it hops closer to rayfa, but she doesn't seem grossed out by it at all. instead, she pulls it up and makes it sit on the space between her and nahyuta. ]

I think I shall. Perhaps I will find a new meditation spot, wherever the presence of the Holy Mother is strongest.

[She seems to have given him permission, at least, which is better than feeling like he's infringing on what had been almost exclusively her space until recently, and making her unhappy with it. They can share, right?

As for the frog, he's not surprised she isn't grossed out by it. Khura'inism demands respect for all living things ~~and the blood of Disney Princesses runs strong on this side of the family~~. What does surprise him is how it seems unfazed to be to be handled like... Well, a pet.]

Is this a friend of yours, Your Benevolence?

She is my pet.

[ the frog croaks in agreement, or at least, its timing is perfect enough to seem like it's agreeing with rayfa. though after she realises that she sounded so calm giving away a part of her like that, she freezes and adds: ]

Do not presume I am giving you permission to be her friend!

[ not the best thing she's come up with, but at least She Tried. ]

[...And there she goes again, being cold towards him. He still can't help but be hurt by it, for all Amara's warnings not to take it personally. Did he overstep his bounds? What should he say that won't make her angry?]

...I am sorry. I asked out of curiosity; I was not presuming anything.

[Why must he be denied frog friendship? :( ]

She enjoys back massages, and eating fruit flies.

[ oh. rayfa may have said all that earlier, but now??? ah... she just makes no sense. have patience, nahyuta. she's just a teenage girl. :'( ]

[Teenage girls are much easier to prosecute for murder or throw prayer beads at than to get along with. smh.]

Ah--! [He's getting confused at all these mixed signals, someone save him.] Is that so? Then perhaps she will not mind if...

[He reaches down very carefully, and starts to pet the frog. Rayfa won't object to giving her a little backrub, right?]

[ oh my god, what is happening??? she's never seen her frog react like this before!! both her and nahyuta's ears are now being pierced by the sharp screaming of the frog. ]

Br- Braid Head! [ she slaps his hand away and grabs the frog and pulls it closer to her. ] You have made her upset!

P-pohlkunka!! [He draws back in alarm. What is even happening? He didn't even know frogs could make that kind of noise.]

I... I was only heeding your suggestion! Is she hurt?

[ the frog's gone quiet now that it seems to think it's safe. rayfa lets it plop on her skirt and takes a deep breath, calming herself again. there really is no point in getting mad over something like this. it could have been an accident. she'll just explode if it ever happens again. ]

It does not seem like she is. [ she gives the frog an affectionate head pat. it's kind of slimy but she doesn't mind. ] You are fortunate.

That is a relief... Such a hellish scream could have shaken the very Twilight Realm itself.

[Phew. He won't touch it again, keeping well away from it.]

Perhaps I startled her, because she is used to being handled only by you?

... You are not wrong.

[ her poor frog. she's never made nayna, or rather, amara, touch her frog before. this is actually the first time she's asking somebody to touch her pet. but if it's used to just being touched by rayfa, then it makes sense. ]

You may need to be trained, if you are to interact with her.

"Trained"? Are you forgetting who is the pet here?

[He can't tell if she's insulting him or joking. ...More likely is that she's actually serious about it, though.]

[ she's actually very serious about this. she doesn't mean anything bad by it. just that he probably needs a lesson or two on how to interact with frogs. ]

Do you wish to discomfort her again?

[She is serious. Looks like he still has a lot to learn about Rayfa.]

No, of course not. By all means, Your Benevolence, please share your teachings with me.

[ hmph. rayfa actually does smile now, amused that she's getting things her way. not that she had any doubts that she wouldn't. ]

To be her friend, you must communicate with her properly. You must treat her with respect, and you must not make it seem as if she is just an animal. [ then she looks down at the frog, a solemn expression on her face. ]

How do you do? I was quite occupied this morning as there were many people to meet, some even from other countries. Have you eaten?

[ after that, there's a short pause then she looks back at nahyuta. ]

If you have a hat, you must tip it to her to display courtesy.

[ SHE IS 100% SERIOUS HERE!! ]

[Nahyuta listens intently like a good student, nodding once she's finished and looking down at the frog.]

Hap'piraki. May the blessings of the Holy Mother rain down upon you this day. [he just blessed a frog??]

I am sorry for startling you earlier, and I hope I may humbly seek your forgiveness.

[ the frog's eyes quickly shift from left to right, but it does not move its head. then it croaks softly, still standing as still as it was earlier. ]

She seems pleased. [ better than earlier with the screaming frog and screaming rayfa, at least. ] You have been forgiven. Surely, this must cause you joy.

[ SURELY!!!! ]

It does. To be on the receiving end of such charity... I expect your friend to become a maiden of much kindness and wisdom in the next life.

[Maybe he's taking this a little too far, but Rayfa seems to be pretty happy about it, all things considered.]

[ THIS IS THE STUPIDEST CONVERSATION.

rayfa is pretty pleased with how this is turning out. she looks at the frog and for a few moments, stays silent. they seem to be having a telepathic conversation.

and then... ]

She says you may pet her.

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