AU!Elsa isn't entirely on board with this. Or human.

[put_on_a_show]

This isn't funny, Mun. There is nothing funny about my life, but especially not when you take me from the middle of Coronation Day. Don't you see, I'll never manage to be part of Arendelle if I mess this up - I can't rule a kingdom that would want me dead. It's hard enough trying to be perfect on a good day without you talking about games and memes. I don't have time for this.

And please, keep Anna out of this. The less she knows, the safer she'll be, if something goes wrong.

Comments

[wherelovefails]

You might be surprised at what one can accomplish when the world would rather see them dead. Terribly motivating, actually.

[put_on_a_show]

I'd rather accomplish what I can as Queen without any added difficulties. I don't need that kind of pressure on top of the usual work.

[wherelovefails]

[ A laugh at that, an ugly sound. ]

Unless you're blessed beyond all belief with impossible peace, evading death is often part of the usual work.

[put_on_a_show]

[Annoyance flashes across her face.] I know it is. That's what I've been doing for a long time. But it'll be a lot easier if the kingdom doesn't know all the parts of the truth, just what they need to know.

[wherelovefails]

[ He hums briefly in thought. ] That's one means of going about it, certainly. But a doomed one, if you allow a fear of the people to rule you instead of the other way about.

[put_on_a_show]

It's not doomed. Anything can be done if it's done right, carefully. I won't make any mistakes that will put my kingdom or my rule in jeopardy. I know better than that. I... I can do this.

[wherelovefails]

Were all mistakes so easily avoidable, I doubt we would see so many of them made.

Surely you have some contingency, at the very least?

[put_on_a_show]

If all else fails, I will leave the kingdom to my sister Anna. Her right to the throne is legitimate and the people would take to her better.

[wherelovefails]

So surrender is your contingency.

Tell me, where might I find this kingdom of Arendelle on a map?

[put_on_a_show]

Surrendering when going on would do more damage is the right move. It isn't the heroic one, but it's the one that will work.

My mun says not all countries are in all worlds. But we should be just south of Denmark.

[wherelovefails]

If the throne is better in her hands, why not just hand it off and be done with it? What gain is there in it for you?

Better yet, I'll take it. Should I find this "Denmark", I'll be happy to sack it personally and spare you the anguish of responsibility.

[put_on_a_show]

The customs of our country dictate she isn't old enough to rule. I've only just turned old enough, myself. Handing it off to her would make people suspicious and I'd have to find a way to explain it to her, as well. It's not viable at this point.

No. You will never rule Arendelle - you aren't capable of handling the magic in it, and you'd end up a puppet of a force beyond your control. I may not be a perfect fit for the throne but you aren't fit to run a market in my kingdom, let alone the kingdom itself.

[wherelovefails]

[ Ah... That first bit was just some drivel he didn't care much for, but the latter? Talk of magic, forces beyond his control, inferiority? Now he's wearing a grin, taking a few lazy steps closer, approaching the fringe of her personal space. ]

Now you sound more like a queen worthy of some respect! But if you think you're the only one with a touch of magic in you, the only one able to resist the pull of strings...

[ He spreads his arms, almost invitingly. A fan of theatrics, this one. ]

The fire and death within me will be more than happy to dispel the illusion.

[put_on_a_show]

[The lights in the lanterns flicker and die in an instant. The light from the windows goes dim. And Elsa's lack of warm coloring, the faint blue to her eyes and unnatural blue in her lips, grows more vivid.]

I'm under no illusions. I am not unique in my power. But I am far more acquainted with the workings of it and others in Arendelle than an outsider could ever be. I have spent years working towards knowing my land and those within it. So if you want to attempt murder to take my throne I'll be happy to dispel the illusion I'm someone you can push around or push over.

[wherelovefails]

[ He isn't hasty in his response, casting a curious gaze around the room with a tilt of his head. He's stared down worse, certainly, but not knowing what it is exactly that he's up against is reason enough to stay his blade. ]

All this foreplay is going to feel terribly wasted without a suitable climax.

What is Her Majesty's name, if I might be so bold as to inquire?

[put_on_a_show]

That sounds like a personal problem to me. And not one I have time to care about.

Elsa. [She looks at him with too-blue eyes.] To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?

[wherelovefails]

[ His grin widens as he peers into those shockingly blue eyes - when she isn't being so nervous about her subjects, she's actually quite fun. Ah, but it wouldn't do to develop a fancy of any sort for a queen he may one day have to dethrone. ]

Jorg of Ancrath.

[ He dips in a bow, far too gracious to actually be genuine. ]

Humbled, of course.

[put_on_a_show]

I have yet to hear of Ancrath, though Arendelle has many trading partners. It's an honor, Jorg. [Elsa can bullshit her way around palace politics. She's been studying up on such things for three years. Her own curtsy is just wide enough to be possibly mocking or accidentally too big, you make the call.]

I take it you've been subject to having a mun for longer than I. Tell me, do they actually do anything with their spur of the moment ideas?

[wherelovefails]

[ From threatening death on one another to niceties in nothing flat - royal politics at their finest, truly.

He straightens somewhat, not quite standing with the posture of a king but with the same confidence - arrogance? - one might expect of such. ]

I haven't seen activity in months, so let that say what it will.

[put_on_a_show]

Hmm. That bodes well enough, I guess - my mun and I have opposite ideas of what we want to happen here. How long have you had your mun?

[wherelovefails]

The better part of nine months, and hardly a thing to show for it.

[ One shoulder rises and falls. ]

A waste of time, moreso mine than his.

[put_on_a_show]

Nine months? I can't waste almost an entire year sitting around doing nothing.

[wherelovefails]

Then I'd get on your knees and start praying your mundane has greater ambitions than my own.

[warring_triad]

Oh, I don't know, I think there's plenty funny about it~!

[put_on_a_show]

Really.

[warring_triad]

Oh, indeed! Snatched away at the moment of your greatest achievement, your attempts to blend in as a normal person... trying to be perfect? All are comedic gold~!

[Have a giggle.]

[put_on_a_show]

If what I've been told is right we go back to that moment. Nothing has changed. I haven't failed, I've just been given an unexpected break. This is unwanted, but since nothing's gone wrong, it's fine. So you're really laughing at nothing.

[warring_triad]

Ah, but that's the beauty of it! Nothing has changed. If you fail, there's nothing you can do here that will change it. And, considering the track record of those trying to be something they're not, the chances of failure are rather high~!

So tell me. What would it be like if you fail? If your kingdom comes crashing down around you?

[put_on_a_show]

The - the kingdom would fall to my sister. Arendelle would be fine. Our people would be protected and secure.

But it won't happen. I'm a lot better at pretending than others. I can make this work.