recessives | Post-R2 Catchall!!

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Post-R2 Catchall!!

[ So! After everything is said and done, Shilo eventually settles on taking Anne of Cleves up on her "Come be a lady-in-waiting" offer once it's explained to her what's actually meant by that. So now she's a keyboard player! And she's... honestly happier than she's been in a very long time. Sometimes you really do just have to fuckin drop everything and join a band, you know?

Even if apparently your worst-smelling friend from home is a Narrator too and won't stop just kind of showing up once in a while (subject to retcon if someone for some reason apps GR to r3, obvs, but otherwise he's her shitty offscreen uncle who won't leave her alone).

She doesn't do a lot of visiting around, at least not at first! It's nothing against anyone else, of course, but she wants to spend some time settling into her new life. She gets to hang out with a bunch of cool ladies and play sick tunes, this is basically the dream??? Basically the only way it could get better is if Mag were here. But if you want her to be visiting your character, she definitely doesn't spend no time away, you know?

I'm mostly keeping it loose! Come say hi to the newly well-dressed and much more confident and happy Shilo Wallace. She's dating Katherine Howard, an incredibly powerful statement with or without context. ]

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[Powerful with or without context, but incredibly more powerful with the context. Anne of Cleves may have been the one to suggest Shilo join the band as a Lady in Waiting, but it's a different Tudor Queen that really takes to Shilo.

It makes sense. Katherine was a Lady in Waiting before she was Queen. She had been responsible, and so devoted to music. Of course, she'd want to Shilo the ropes.

It had been easy, before, to forget Katherine's youth, due to her brash words and harsh views of reality. Since Shilo's entered her life, it's been more difficult to put such things aside. She laughs often now-- without her words requiring a thorn to them. Her mask of confidence slips more frequently. And according to Anne of Cleves, who sings Shilo's praises, she's more like the girl who greeted her at court, and less like-- well-- the obvious winner of the worst-life competition.

It lets her do whimsical, fun things again-- like they are now, picnic-ing in a park, where Katherine has forced Shilo to close her eyes for a few moments.]

Keep them closed! Don't look! [There's the commands of a girl who had once had servants flinging themselves back against the wall the moment she entered a room. She can be heard rustling with something she brought, then, drops a crown of flowers that have had a good coat of glitter and rhinestones applied to them, onto Shilo's head. She takes a few moments to adjust it, then once it's perfect, she presses her compact mirror into Shilo's hands.]

Okay. You can look now.

[ It's hard to say, given that there is not a musical show about her life, just how far Shilo has come from looking at her if one isn't Anne of Cleves, who actually saw. Shilo is generally reluctant to say much more than "my dad kept me locked in our house my whole life," but overall, in other ways, has become way more open! She walks with confidence now, laughs at jokes, sings in a major key once in a while. Shilo Wallace is, for lack of a more nuanced term, Happy Here, in a way she's never quite used to feeling.

And of course the Opera House gave her practice in getting to know others her own age - shoutout to Riley Williams both for fielding Shilo's frequent complaints about her world and life, and also for showing that maybe she doesn't have to drop everything on people all at once, excellent friend practice - but there's something different about getting to know Katherine. It's not just the change of scenery from where Shilo met her other teenage friends, she doesn't think. This is just... different.

And they do fun things together, like this! It's- okay, Shilo still needs to apply heavy sunscreen before going outside like this, but also she's going outside like this. It's a beautiful day and Shilo Wallace, her real hair a few months into growing for the first time in her life, is in the park having a picnic. She gets to act her age, seventeen going on eighteen. She's almost used to it by now. ]

Not looking! Promise.

[ And true to her word, she doesn't! Not even an attempt to peek until she's told to, and she takes a few seconds to admire it.

This sort of thing she's definitely not used to. Or the way it makes her feel. But it makes her smile as wide as anything does, and that feels pretty good. ]

Whoah... I love it.

[Katherine's own smile may not be as wide, but she does look extremely satisfied with herself-- most of which has to do with Shilo's smile. She had thought it was a little dorky of an idea, but she seems to like it, and she doesn't have to play it cool around Shilo, which is nice, but still a little disorienting.

She's been here before. But this time... She never thought she'd dare and think this again-- but maybe this time it is different.]

Now you have a crown of your own. [It's a cheesy thing to say, and the blush on her cheeks isn't entirely makeup-- it's stupidly cheesy, but she doesn't care. Instead, she leans in, her face close to Shilo's, and--

Uh, she's just taking a selfie, duh. She holds the phone out in front of them, the single greatest invention of this new time period.]

Smile! [She likes Shilo so much that she's willing to wait until she's ready to snap a few pictures, instead of just going for it when she herself looks nice.]

[ Luckily for all parties involved, Shilo herself probably does qualify as "a little dorky" no matter how far she's come in terms of personal development. So naturally, she entirely unironically loves this! It's cute, and it makes her happy, and Katherine is happy, which also makes her happy! It's nice to have someone she can be this close to without... complicated feelings.

Okay, yes, there are some slightly complicated feelings towards Katherine she's working through. But it's not... they're not bad feelings, she knows that, and she has some kind of suspicion what they might be but uh. She's in the band. She knows how K Howard's song goes. And being friends, going outside and having fun? That's already more than Shilo ever thought she'd get. ]

Hell yeah. Cool.

[ It's quiet, and Shilo is... her skin is literally incapable of hiding the blush that hits her cheeks, that's a lost cause, but she does her best to get in proper selfie position! She smiles, hoping her cheeks aren't still too pink by the time the picture gets taken. Katherine is... Very Close. Wowie. ]

Edited (left, came back, reread tag, didnt like a thing, u no how it go) 2020-09-20 01:09 (UTC)

[At least the pink on Shilo's cheeks looks cute, next to all of the pink that is Katherine Howard. Katherine gets a few she likes and stays leaned over near Shilo as she quickly uploads the best of them to social media, full of lots of pink emojis and hearts and crowns.

She pauses, and adjusts Shilo's crown before she draws back-- but only slightly. She's still sitting awfully close.]

Hell yeah. [I mean, Shilo couldn't have said it any better, right?]

Are you feeling okay? We can pack up and head indoors if it's too much, or-- [She's not normally this kind of worried about others, tending to care about herself first instead. But she can't help but worrying about Shilo at least a little, as she brushes Shilo's hair back, gently.]

[ Shilo sort of... sneaks a peek at the pictures, at least, just to see. She'll see them later on her own social media feeds, a thing she has finally mostly figured out how to do, probably mostly thanks to Katherine herself (she wonders, sometimes, if once upon a time her father had a tiktok, but that's a cursed thought for another time and another kind of thread).

But wow, Katherine is still very close. It is very hard to not blush, especially when she does something as direct as gently touch her hair oh NO- she hopes she's not blushing as much as she feels like she is.

She's suddenly very aware of both those unfamiliar feelings about Katherine, both that they are here and that she is in fact pretty sure she knows what they are. ]

I'm good! Promise.

[She is blushing as much as she feels she is-- or at least, probably close to it. Katherine notices, but doesn't say anything outright about it. She doesn't want to complicate things too much, so when she sets her hand on Shilo's leg, it's much closer to her knee than it is to her thigh.]

Okay. Good. Let me know if that changes. [She gives Shilo a very intense look, a look that says I'm Katherine Howard, and I mean business. Then she moves and flips open the picnic basket, to reveal an abundance of snacks and beverages. Another Queen definitely packed this.]

Ugh. Left out the booze again.

[ Well let's all be thankful for that hand placement or the blush would get real intense. Regardless, Shilo nods, the blush lessening some as she lets the question center her a little. ]

Will do.

[ Shilo peers over Katherine's shoulder at the basket. Truly a bummer... not that Shilo can do a whole lot of drinking, on account of her Upbringing, but! ]

Guess we'll have to settle for soda.

Guess so. [Katherine sounds less amused than Shilo, but she smiles and snaps a few photos of the two of them together. She slumps slightly, resting her head on Shilo's shoulder as she uploads things.]

Ugh. It works, but where's the respect?! I'm the same as them!

[ Ah, so it's back to being very close. This is fine! Her stomach isn't suddenly full of butterflies or anything! But at least there's a question to focus on answering. ]

I mean... you're also around my age, right? In a way?

[ This is said in part to try to explain, and also in part to uh. Make sure. For, you know, Reasons. ]

If we’re counting birthdays, and not birth years. [Since that would make Katherine so old she doesn’t even want to think about it, and make Shilo.... negative??? years old? She lingers there, with her head resting against Shilo, for a few seconds, then goes back to digging through the lunch.]

I just hate it when they treat me like a child. I was a queen too. At least they’ve trusted us with sandwiches and strawberries.

Right. [ So Katherine isn't, like, hundreds of years old. That's a comfort for Shilo and her heart! ]

I mean... trust me, I get that, but being our age isn't so bad. We just get to sneak drinks instead.

[ Shilo Wallace: A Criminal. ]

And hey, everyone likes sandwiches and strawberries, at least.

[The corners of K’s mouth twitch in amusement at Shilo’s suggestion, and she can’t help but giggling.]

I guess we do. I’m very good at sneaking. [Thats—- well—- That’s probably a reference at something a little more dire than whats at hand here, but that’s Katherine’s way. Subtly mentioning her traumas at awkward moments, passing it off so that it’s hard to tell if it’s reality or joke—- She unpacks their lunch without a change in demeanor.]

We’re lucky, too, it’s pretty normal food in here. No quails.

[ Shilo giggles a little too, along with her, but as for the next comment... honestly, given how her life has also gone, she Gets It, as far as jokes like that one go. She doesn't make them herself, but like. She understands, so her demeanor doesn't shift much either. ]

Oh good, I don't want to have to go hunting a bird through the park today.

[ Jokes! But she takes some food. ]

I'll take normal food.

And they’re so cute! I always felt so bad having them for dinner, no matter how fancy. They have these adorable little curls on their heads! [It’s perhaps a less than mature revelation, but she’s sure Shilo can understand. She twists the top off one of the fancy soda bottles and hands it off to Shilo, before opening her own.]

Cheers! To our newest Lady in Waiting!

I... you know, I don't think I've seen a quail in person yet. But I believe that.

[ Birds Cute! But Shilo will blush again, though this time there's at least a reasonable excuse, as she raises the drink she's been handed. ]

Heh, thanks. Cheers!

Oh, Shilo. They're adorable. They have these little curls on the top of their heads, and the babies follow their moms around in a little line. [More important things here, though. She gently clinks the bottles of soda together, then takes a sip.]

You're doing really well. I may have been a different type of Lady in Waiting, but I can still tell.

That does sound cute.

[ small birds... Good. But soda! Fancy soda, heck yeah. Shilo knows enough about toasts at this point to drink after, too, and she smiles. ]

Thanks. I was... nervous, like really nervous, but I really like it here. I'm just glad being stuck inside for so long didn't keep me from being able to, you know, work with people. Or... talk to them. At all. [ Did she spend the first couple weeks at least mildly terrified of casual social interaction without outside forces prompting it? Maybe so! ] But everyone here makes it really easy.

Yeah. They’re alright, aren’t they? Not the worst group of people to be around. [She sets the drink down, leaning back to bask in the sun.]

I’m... glad you like it. You think you like it enough to stick around a while more?

[ Shilo nods, not quite leaning back but looking up towards the sky. ]

Yeah. I've always wanted to be a musician. I just... didn't think it would ever actually happen. I didn't think any of this would ever happen. So... yeah, I think you're stuck with me.

[Katherine’s not looking towards the sky either. Out of habit, she’s checking around, and behind her—- but there’s no need to hide, not anymore. And that’s just about as nice as getting to be a musician, when you thought you’d never have the opportunity.]

That’s something I can deal with. [She moves swiftly, gently placing her hand atop Shilo’s, and pressing a kiss to Shilo’s cheek.]

[ Well that... sure could happen! Okay! There's... she could somehow not be the palest girl in the world and there would be no hiding how hard she's blushing- ]

I... you... me?

[ It's not an objection in tone, she's just! Confused and slightly overwhelmed, both very suddenly! She sort of. Points to Katherine, points to herself, with the free hand she has to do so.

Very smooth, long story short. Super smooth. ]

I— yeah? [Katherine’s pulled back now, momentarily frozen as she wonders if she’s read the cues wrong— if she’s created a disaster.]

Oh, no— I’m sorry— I should have asked, and not just like gone for it— total jerk move——

No! I mean, you're good, it's just-

[ She clears her throat, raising her hands. ]

I just didn't think you - you know - liked me back? I guess? I'm really bad at this, I'm sorry-

What? Of course I liked you back! I thought we were doing a thing! Like—- [She straightens up, and strikes a sudden, cool expression.]

Long, smoldering looks from across the stage, quick, familiar touches and secret meanings, and.... [She lowers her voice to a whisper.]

Subtle yearning?

[ Shilo... smiles a little, still blushing. ]

That... definitely sounds a lot better than "I keep thinking about how much I want to kiss you but I've never felt like this about anyone before so I don't say anything." So uh... yeah, yearning, that makes me sound way cooler than I have felt.

[Katherine can’t keep up the cool act anymore. She laughs, relieved that she hadn’t messed anything up, or misread the signals too disturbingly.]

Surprise! We can pretend it was that cool thing. No one needs to know.

So... never felt this way about anyone before?

[ Shilo laughs a little, too, similarly capital-r Relieved. ]

I won't tell anyone if you won't.

[ But she nods, tucking an errant lock of hair behind her ear. ]

Nope, no one. Which is why I am so super good at this, warning you now.

Don’t worry. It’ll be my first time teaching anyone, but you’re in very capable hands. [She speaks with her usual self assured tone, but her smile is soft and gentle, as she too reaches to stroke Shilo’s hair back.]

If... you want to?

[ Oh - oh, just like that, okay! Shilo blinks a couple times before it really sinks, in but.

I must be brave.

She nods. ]

I... yes, absolutely.

[Katherine pauses, suddenly gaining a serious look as she draws back slightly-- though she does place a hand on Shilo's knee.]

You really want to, right? I don't want to be this something that I boss you into.

[ Shilo nods. ]

Yeah. I mean I'm nervous, but I'm pretty sure that's normal, and it's not... "I don't want to do this" nervous.

If you.... change your mind at any time. You’ll let me know, right? [She hesitates, casting Shilo a very serious look. She wants to make very sure.]

Yeah.

[ Shilo looks Katherine up and down for a moment, taking things in. ]

Should I be... doing something? With my hands or something? If we're gonna...

Shhh. It’s kind. Just do whatever you think is right. [Katherine pats her her hands.]

We’ll take it slow. One step at a time.

[ A small swallow, and another nod. ]

Right. Slow sounds nice. I'll follow your lead.

[Katherine Howard finds herself doing something rather unusual-- she hesitates. It's unnatural. Normally, she's thought everything through ahead of time, unfolded every possibility, charted her path before she's even begun-- her stomach stirs.

Oh, God. Please. Let this time be different. Not just for avoiding misery's sake, either.

Even if she's in an unfamiliar state, Shilo's depending on her-- so Katherine musters her courage, nodding at her new girlfriend, gently placing both hands on Shilo's shoulders.]

You can depend on me. [She flushes, instantly thinking the declaration sounds stupid-- and presses her lips against Shilo's-- a distraction from the foolish announcement.]

[ It's not thoughts, necessarily, but feelings that fill Shilo's head in the last moments before the kiss. There's the residual anxiety left over from the subject of "what if we kissed" finally being broached, the new anxiety of "what if we kiss right now," and the elation of "I'm about to kiss a girl who wants to kiss me and means it." It's a wild mix, considering also the underlying issue of Shilo's experiences with physical affection and how not-actually-that-long-ago so much of it was very suddenly re-contextualized.

In her own way, Shilo is sort of hoping the same thing.

So as cheesy as the statement is, it's welcome, and it gets Shilo to relax enough not to make a complete fool of herself in pressing her lips back against Katherine's. ]

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Post-R2 Catchall!!

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