[seasonal event] Fake smiles and happy never after

She listens to Maea speak of the festival, and something within her finds a glimmer of happiness at the joyfulness of it. It reminds her of the celebration they had in the Rift, when they awoke Hope and had all danced beneath the shadow of the Guardian. It was relief and promise, that what they had done had worked eventually. But now, now as she thought about celebrating it felt hard. She could have danced with Ru’in, married him, and now she felt like she had nothing.

It wasn’t true, however, she had Seiji as her friend and Auni as her companion, but it still hurt.

When Maea turns the question to her, she shakes her head a bit. “I don’t remember having many festivals. We had some get together events with friends but nothing quite like this.” She offers, glancing to notice that Maea is gone from her station yet the knife keeps chopping. And suddenly she wishes for her fire magic again, if only to watch something burn. But she stifles it down and continues until she has no more worms left and looks to find Maea again. “It sounds like a wonderful time, though. I’m glad to be able to be a part of it.” She offers thoughtfully, and she means it. Despite the darkness and sadness in her heart, she’s still here and the world has moved on. And perhaps that’s for the better after all.