MAEA
It was Evie. Evie plus one. While she hadn't expected an addition, hindsight made it obvious that a region's ruler would bring an escort while traveling to dangerous places. Looking at the soldier a second time Maea was almost more surprised that it wasn't Deimos himself - and wondered what she would have done if it was. Would it make things more awkward, or less?
She knew, at the very least, that she couldn't be further from the person she had been when they grew up. It was more than the obvious horns that jutted from her temples, or the tail that kept her balanced in her crouch. It went beyond the black clothes and the sharp teeth and the wary gleam in her eyes as she followed the red-head; all the way to the tilt of her chin and the subtle strength as she rose to her feet in a single motion.
The old Maea would never meet Evie's gaze directly. The old Maea would have apologized for the heat, made some excuse as to why she hadn't known so much would be different from her last visit. The young Maea would be used to little needles and barbs that made sure to remind her that she was the basket case here, second to Amalia in favor and desperately grateful to have any friends at all.
Had it all been on purpose? Maybe not. Had much of these perceptions inflated and grown over the years, until reality was warped beyond recognition? Possibly. The instinct to cower her shoulders was there. But she refused to give in to it, and bit off a smile, sharp and lopsided - filled with irony at the way words on paper could build bridges even in this scorching place.
"Hi. Not long - I had some things to do." Nodding down to the dress, she gestured at the bag of ashes. "It's going to become armor. Or so I hope. First I'll have to ruin it."
Turning to look at her old friend, Maea allowed herself to really look. Take in the red hair, the freckles, the familiar curve of her nose and the way her head moved. So familiar, in a haunting kind of way - like looking at a ghost - because this woman was not the Evie she had known. How many years had it been, since they last spoke? That awful delve into the cannibal den up in Halo? That made it eight years at least, maybe more. Dragging up the past after so many years... they had to be insane, both of them. There was no way they could do this without someone getting hurt in the process.
Maea drew in a shallow breath, only to let it out slowly. Bracing herself. "Would you like to help?"
She knew, at the very least, that she couldn't be further from the person she had been when they grew up. It was more than the obvious horns that jutted from her temples, or the tail that kept her balanced in her crouch. It went beyond the black clothes and the sharp teeth and the wary gleam in her eyes as she followed the red-head; all the way to the tilt of her chin and the subtle strength as she rose to her feet in a single motion.
The old Maea would never meet Evie's gaze directly. The old Maea would have apologized for the heat, made some excuse as to why she hadn't known so much would be different from her last visit. The young Maea would be used to little needles and barbs that made sure to remind her that she was the basket case here, second to Amalia in favor and desperately grateful to have any friends at all.
Had it all been on purpose? Maybe not. Had much of these perceptions inflated and grown over the years, until reality was warped beyond recognition? Possibly. The instinct to cower her shoulders was there. But she refused to give in to it, and bit off a smile, sharp and lopsided - filled with irony at the way words on paper could build bridges even in this scorching place.
"Hi. Not long - I had some things to do." Nodding down to the dress, she gestured at the bag of ashes. "It's going to become armor. Or so I hope. First I'll have to ruin it."
Turning to look at her old friend, Maea allowed herself to really look. Take in the red hair, the freckles, the familiar curve of her nose and the way her head moved. So familiar, in a haunting kind of way - like looking at a ghost - because this woman was not the Evie she had known. How many years had it been, since they last spoke? That awful delve into the cannibal den up in Halo? That made it eight years at least, maybe more. Dragging up the past after so many years... they had to be insane, both of them. There was no way they could do this without someone getting hurt in the process.
Maea drew in a shallow breath, only to let it out slowly. Bracing herself. "Would you like to help?"
Light is easy to love
Show me your darkness
Show me your darkness
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
