#〳◌ ⁀ « an audience! perfect for that of the chosen! » ( DASH COMMENTARY. )

[duskroine]

          “Dusk hopes you haven’t been awaiting their presence too long,” Ophelia greets the looming figure of Rhajat with a smile, closing their room door behind them and lazily tossing their bag off somewhere to the side. Rhajat says nothing, merely glaring as they refuse to move from the door. In fact, Ophelia seems almost teasing; the delicate curve of their grin is nothing if not mocking Rhajat for being unable to speak. Yet she does.

          “Why did you do it?” Rhajat asks, to which Ophelia only blinks, owlishly. The grin moved from their lips as they appear confused, instead.

          “Do what?” A shake of their head, “Please do not accuse the heroine for idle acts of foolery! My day has been hard enough with the lack of assistance in the stables!”

          Rhajat does not smile, nor laugh. She takes only a few steps before she’s in front of Ophelia. Then, she holds up a couple of cards. The marks of an owl left on its parchment. “These. I know you handed them in to the Knights for the stupid event.”

          Of course Ophelia did! And seeing the cards almost makes them want to jump up and scream that, yes, they were the culprit behind Rhajat’s misfortune! Except, they don’t. Ophelia tilts their head and pretends to read over the words on the form, as if the words were not the ones they had written down a few nights ago.

          “Nope, this surely must be a misunderstanding.” Ophelia shrugs— hiding their triumph at the confused frown on Rhajat’s face. “Besides, why am I the first accusation you set to place?! What of Mitama? Kana?” Then a beat of pause— another name, one who would also be willing to push Rhajat into a state of excitement. “What of Sharena?”

          Rhajat reacts to this quite well; if uncertainty washing over her face was any sign of reacting well. “Oh...” She mumbles, “I was certain that it might have been you. The writing was... never mind. Pity, I even had another curse planned out and everything.”

          Not again. “Well, the stars have revealed to me Sharena’s location; in the marketplace trying to retrieve a gift for her close, close friend!” And Ophelia winks at Rhajat, which causes the diviner to click her tongue and look away with the remains of a smile on her face. “Hurry before she is lost to the wisps of my magic and you, your undying curse, is unable to find her.”

          There is a moment of vulnerability that catches Ophelia’s attention; as Rhajat lowers the cards and turns her back on them, carding her hands through her locks of hair. Quietly, Ophelia turns the knob on the door and pulls it open, enough for her to slip out if needed.

          “Oh and a quick note; Dusk prays that your date with Altena of Crimson Wings goes splendidly well—”

          When Rhajat turns around, a glare in her eyes and a scowl on her lips, Ophelia slips out of the room and bolts down the hallway; a celebratory laugh escapes them at the call of their name far behind their stride.

[duskroine]

          Ophelia has barely been on receiving end of Rhajat’s hexes after the war’s closure. Though it seems that Fódlan can shift one’s intentions with the flick of fate’s wrist.

          The heroine is given only a moment to collect themselves  before the door to their dorm room is thrown open. They screech, voice immediately losing itself to the set of coughing that erupts in her chest. A sniffle is made as they wipe the tears pricking their eyes— only an effect of whatever curse that Rhajat had set upon her in the Golden Deer classroom.

          “Ophelia,” and they look up at the voice, only to scream once again and attempt to push themselves further onto the mattress of their bed. Unfortunate, that Rhajat is a step faster than them; her hand closing around their uniform’s collar and pulling them forward with a tug.

          “Haven’t you— ack— had your fun already?” Ophelia hisses out, a pout heavy on their lips. Rhajat does not look the slightest bit of amused. “My tongue lies u-unable to taste anything I’ve been given today! Not even the sweetest of nectar gifted by fate’s own—”

          “Mitama told me.”

          “—hands and... huh?”

          Rhajat smiles, a delicate yet threatening curl of her lips. “And here I thought you were safe from my wrath.”

          “W-Wrath?!” Ophelia laughs, awkward as their hands attempt to pull Rhajat’s from keeping their distance locked together. All proves futile, so they try to smile their way out of whatever anger Rhajat holds for them. Batting their eyelashes and smiling widely, “Whatever our g-great friend has spoken of definitely isn’t towards me! I mean, the Heroine of Dark?! Of all people?”

          The diviner only stares at her. “You know why I attempted to curse your classmate, and yet you hadn’t even dared to come out of your own wrongdoings.”

          “For the love of dragons, please tell me what it is that the Chosen has done!”

          “Mitama told me that you’ve made attempts at her heart. You and another fool I’ll deal with later.”

          Ophelia’s mouth opens to protest but the words register in their head and they blink. Either in disbelief or amusement, either emotion fitting but all too faint. And in the presence of Rhajat’s smile fading into something of wicked delight, they immediately attempt a response. “W-Wait, it was a joke! Rhajat, do you not understand the structure of japes? Jests?!”

          “Yes, I do.” Rhajat lets go of Ophelia and reaches for the tome on her hip, “Fortunately, this curse is not a joke.”

          “RHAJAT!!”