"Zara, you're a genius!" (Alara)
Alara throws herself across the couch, landing haphazardly across Zara as she wraps her in an awkward hug. The action is so sloppy that, had Alara not finished her glass of wine already, it would have sloshed everywhere.
Zara blinks in confusion, thrown by the sudden and uncharacteristically fervent praise from Alara.
'Is this the alcohol? If so, she's quite the...what did Mizuki call it? Lightweight?'
However, before she can finish being surprised, Alara giggles and releases her from the poorly executed hug, flopping back onto her side of the couch. She gives Zara a dopey grin.
"This will definitely work, I can already imagine their faces when they hear about this. Fufufu...I want to send the letters first thing tomorrow." (Alara)
Alara rises languidly from the couch, causing Zara to raise an eyebrow.
"Alara, where are you going? I would recommend not writing any letters before tomorrow morning." (Zara)
Alara gives her an incredulous look.
"Pfft...more work? I'll pass! I'm going to get you a wine glass so you can drink with me...we need to celebrate!" (Alara)
Zara raises her eyebrows.
'Celebrate...already? She hasn't done anything yet...'
Alara begins walking back to the couch, an extra glass in hand. Zara wrinkles her nose.
"That is unnecessary...I do not like wine." (Zara)
Alara gives a nearly pouting expression.
"Come on...you never drink with me!" (Alara)
Zara stares at the somewhat tipsy Alara unwillingly, but the elf's expression only becomes more frustrated. Eventually, Zara lets out a sigh.
"Very well...one glass." (Zara)
Alara's face lights up with a smile, and she immediately pours two glasses of wine, offering one to Zara.
"Excellent choice! Here you go..." (Alara)
Zara accepts the glass of wine, and the two begin drinking and chatting, mostly at Alara's behest.
A couple hours later...
Zara glances at the rosy-cheeked Alara, who is three glasses deep and staring at the now empty wine bottle like she's upset with it. Then, she glances down at her own half-empty wine glass - her first of the night.
"Would you like the rest of my wine?" (Zara)
Alara turns towards Zara sluggishly, her eyelids noticeably droopy.
"Whaaa? Reallyyy?" (Alara)
Zara just nods calmly, then Alara gives her a satisfied grin.
"Hmm...hiccup...naaah. I thin' I've ha' enough!" (Alara)
Zara nods and places her wine glass on the table. Then, to her surprise, Alara leans over on the couch towards her, so that her head rests against Zara's thigh. Zara gives her a bewildered look, but Alara just giggles hysterically and grins at her.
"Fufufufu...you're the bes' Zara...you deserve..." (Alara)
Alara's eyes fly open, as though she just remembered something, and she begins shakily rising to her feet as she calls out urgently.
"Present! I got you a...hiccup...presen'!" (Alara)
As Alara stumbles towards a chest of drawers in the corner of the room, Zara watches her with a puzzled expression.
"A gift...for me? Why?" (Zara)
Alara's hands awkwardly rummage though the drawers as she responds in a confused voice.
"Why? Because...you're a goo' par'ner...hiccup...and I'm RICH! Fufufu..." (Alara)
Alara seems to find what she's looking for, and produces a small, ornate box from the chest of drawers. Then, she stumbles her way back over to the couch and practically falls into it as she presents the box to Zara, who accepts it from her hesitantly. Alara lazily drops her head onto the back couch cushions, and looks over at Zara with a dazed smile.
"Mmm...hiccup...open...err, the thing!" (Alara)
Alara gestures impatiently at the small box with a limp hand, and Zara has to suppress the urge to smirk.
'I've seen her drunk before, but...she's outdone herself this time.'
Zara turns her attention to the small box, running her fingers over the delicate wood and metal work. Then, she gently undoes the latch and lifts the box's lid. Inside, she sees two items nestled inside a plush, cloth lining.
One is a fountain pen, and she can tell right away - it's custom, and very expensive. Everything except the tip of the pen is plated in gold, and there's a silver engraving on the pen.
My pen is mightier than your sword.
Zara runs her fingers over the pen's engraving, finally succumbing to a small smile over the very Alara-like comment. Her eyes move to the second item - a small, silver item that looks like one of Mizuki's chess pieces. She picks it up and turns it over in her hands, and she realizes that there's a kind of image carved out of its flat bottom. Her eyes widen in realization.
'It's a seal...this is an official stamp.'
As Zara inspects the seal closely, she sees that it isn't the new family crest Alara chose for her Zuki house, nor does it belong to any of the elven houses Alara has shown her. Instead, it's a depiction of a wolf baring a sword between its teeth. Alara's voice cuts through her thoughts.
"What d'you think?" (Alara)
Zara looks over to see Alara's grey eyes studying her expectantly. She gives a small smile.
"They're both beautiful...thank you. But what is this seal? I do not recognize it..." (Zara)
Alara smiles coyly.
"That's suppos'to be your seal...fufufu. You're the El'er of the wolfies now, right? You need a proper pen and stamp for letters...hiccup...if you want other leaders to take you ser'usly. I co'tell you din't have one, so...FIXED IT! Fufufu...aren't I great?" (Alara)
Alara's eyelids are practically half-closed, one side of her face pressed into the back of the couch cushions, but she's staring at Zara with a friendly, self-satisfied smile plastered across her face. Zara meets Alara's gaze silently for several moments, her mind and heart flooded with a rare amount of emotion. Zara knows exactly how meaningful such a gesture is...how much interest and goodwill Alara must have towards her. The gift seems small, but it cuts right to the heart of one of Zara's dearest desires - to give the wolf-kin the same standing and privilege as major countries.
Zara feels her grip tighten slightly on the box, her eyes conflicted as she tries to process the unfamiliar feelings bubbling inside her. Most people think that she is cold...apathetic...and that may be true externally. However, that's merely a consequence of her upbringing - the wolf-kin consider emotions other than anger a sign of weakness. To make matters worse, Zara lost her mother so long ago she can barely remember her face, her father by the time she became a teenager, and her status as an orphan in the wolf-kin village severely limited her social circle.
All of that has left her without many memories of personal warmth and thoughtful support from others. In addition, she has little experience dealing with positive emotions like gratitude, friendship, or love, and even less experience with properly communicating her feelings in general. Otherwise, she'd recognize the warm feeling, the one sending her thoughts awry at this moment, as genuine appreciation for Alara's as a person...a feeling of friendship and support.
Alas, not fully understanding why the gift and its sentiments are affecting her so deeply, but still recognizing that she is thankful, she just smiles as earnestly as she can at Alara.
"Thank you, Alara. You have prepared an excellent gift, and I gratefully accept." (Zara)
To her surprise, Alara gives her a pouting expression.
"Boo! Where are the tears? The hugs?" (Alara)
Zara's face twists in confusion.
'Why would she expect me to cry? I am clearly happy...'
She raises her eyebrow at Alara.
"Would you like me to hug you?" (Zara)
Alara rolls her eyes in frustration, her voice becoming exasperated.
"Hmph...no hugs. I want...hiccup...I'll go to bed!" (Alara)
Alara tries to stand abruptly, confusing Zara further, but the plastered elf stumbles and unceremoniously falls onto the couch sideways. As her face plants itself into the seat cushions, Alara groans pitifully. Zara merely nods at the sight.
"Very well, I will carry you to your room then." (Zara)
While Alara is still groaning from her fall, before she can protest, Zara quickly applies minor physical enhancement to herself and scoops Alara up into her arms. As she begins making her way out of the family room, towards Alara's bedroom, Alara regains some awareness of her surroundings. Her unfocused eyes fall on Zara, and she throws her arms around Zara's neck, then grumbles in a barely intelligible voice.
"Mmm...thanks..." (Alara)
Zara nods politely.
"You are welcome." (Zara)
She continues down the mansion's hallways, her steps echoing in the otherwise silent surroundings. After several moments, she feels Alara's arms tighten around her, and Zara's sensitive ears pick up more quiet mumbling from Alara.
"Zara..." (Alara)
Zara's voice is nonchalant, the rhythm of her steps uninterrupted.
"Yes?" (Zara)
Alara leans her face into Zara's shoulder in a manner that's almost affectionate, her voice becoming slightly louder despite her nearly shut eyes and languid demeanor.
"You should take my name." (Alara)
Zara blinks, her steps faltering briefly.
"...what?" (Zara)
Alara, seemingly not conscious enough to grasp the reason for Zara's confusion, responds nonchalantly in her same languid voice.
"You should join my...hiccup...fam'ly. Zara Zuki...fufufu...so many zzzzzz's." (Alara)
Zara's confusion only deepens.
"Why?" (Zara)
Alara groans slightly, and Zara thinks that she's finally lost consciousness fully. But after a moment, she mumbles again.
"I want us to...hiccup...run my ter'tory together. I'll ask Mother. Don't want...hiccup...new guard..." (Alara)
Zara's eyes widen in surprise.
Her, Alara, and Mizuki have already discussed her stepping down as Alara's personal guard very soon. For one, the arrangement was meant to be temporary - she's primarily a member of Mizuki's party, so her imperative isn't to stay by Alara's side constantly. However, there's also the limitation that, while the elves are relatively accepting of her in their country, the same can't be said for her involvement in high-level meetings regarding matters of state.
Several of the nobles were already opposed to her accompanying Alara into the last nobles' meeting, and that's likely to extend to other sensitive meetings Alara will need to attend as she continues developing Eden and her territory. Many elves just aren't comfortable with a non-elf having that kind of privilege and influence in their kingdom.
Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that Zara can't stay by Alara's side, or continue helping her manage Eden. She doesn't even see a problem with joining Alara's family in name - her birth family is still her family in her mind, and she doesn't have a last name to be replaced. However, there's a larger problem with Alara's request...one that she hasn't spoken to anyone else about yet...
She glances down at Alara and shakes her head regretfully.
"I am very grateful that you think so highly of me, Alara, and I have enjoyed my time working with you in this way. However, I cannot accept your proposal. Soon, after I have played my part in Mizuki's goals with the elven nobles, the demi-humans, and the Empire...
"I plan to leave the Elven Kingdom and return to my people." (Zara)