12/8/2025, 9:58 PM
(This post was last modified: 12/14/2025, 6:54 PM by Rosie Partytime.)
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Oh! Perhaps this strange woman had the gift of clairvoyance, for how perfectly she knew to play to Yue’s deepest held beliefs: that women and children too often are the receptacles for the wrongdoings of the world, and particularly the wrongdoings of men. Men waged war and did not think twice about the sacrifice; yet this was a concern that plagued the Empress, more than daily. It was the thing that kept her up at night, to know that she was in a position of power, but unable to stop the suffering of the world.
Yue did good where she could, in ways small and nuclear as well as grand and far-reaching. She was benevolent to her handmaidens and court, when she had them. The Empress doted upon her friends well, passed laws she saw fit to create balance in the world, and righted the wrongs that were brought before her throne. Slums were bettered in her name, and criminals held accountable in courts she governed.
Here was yet another opportunity to do good. Yue began to trust the lady Kaede implicitly, knowing that if this was a facade, then the Empress was knowingly falling into her trap. Knowingly, and willingly, for Yue would never turn away a mother and her children in need.
"and you are married still," Yue affirmed passionately, stepping up towards the other with her breastbone held out, covering the woman’s paw with a pale one of her own – symbolizing that she had officially come under Tianlong’s aegis. More specifically, under Yue’s own wing of protection.
No, the harem would not do, for a harem was to create heirs for the dynasty and this woman not only was a widow, but had children. In Tianlong, women did not often remarry. Sometimes, they even followed their husbands into the afterlife, becoming ancestors side-by-side, hand-in-hand.
Yue wanted to be truthful with the woman, to give her a chance to craft the life she wanted – not the life she thought had befallen her. "Tianlong is not to settle here," the Empress spoke in a hushed tone, aware that this information could be used against them. She and Shenlei felt exposed here. Crowded. At risk of eventual attack.
"Soon we will depart. You may once again have your Isle," she conferred the options, withdrawing her paw and walking back a step to give the Lady some space to ponder, "but with Tianlong, you shan't face winter alone."
Yue did good where she could, in ways small and nuclear as well as grand and far-reaching. She was benevolent to her handmaidens and court, when she had them. The Empress doted upon her friends well, passed laws she saw fit to create balance in the world, and righted the wrongs that were brought before her throne. Slums were bettered in her name, and criminals held accountable in courts she governed.
Here was yet another opportunity to do good. Yue began to trust the lady Kaede implicitly, knowing that if this was a facade, then the Empress was knowingly falling into her trap. Knowingly, and willingly, for Yue would never turn away a mother and her children in need.
"and you are married still," Yue affirmed passionately, stepping up towards the other with her breastbone held out, covering the woman’s paw with a pale one of her own – symbolizing that she had officially come under Tianlong’s aegis. More specifically, under Yue’s own wing of protection.
No, the harem would not do, for a harem was to create heirs for the dynasty and this woman not only was a widow, but had children. In Tianlong, women did not often remarry. Sometimes, they even followed their husbands into the afterlife, becoming ancestors side-by-side, hand-in-hand.
Yue wanted to be truthful with the woman, to give her a chance to craft the life she wanted – not the life she thought had befallen her. "Tianlong is not to settle here," the Empress spoke in a hushed tone, aware that this information could be used against them. She and Shenlei felt exposed here. Crowded. At risk of eventual attack.
"Soon we will depart. You may once again have your Isle," she conferred the options, withdrawing her paw and walking back a step to give the Lady some space to ponder, "but with Tianlong, you shan't face winter alone."
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