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+---- Thread: red lips and rosy cheeks (/showthread.php?tid=11094)
red lips and rosy cheeks - Elizabeth - 04-07-2025
Elizabeth admittedly hadn't spent much time in the Council Hall. It wasn't like she had a reason to, and she spent most of her time outside of Halo anyways, traveling for work and whatnot. So when she entered the long hallway of offices, she had to pause, trying to remember which one was the Wardens'. If she remembered correctly... it was the thick wooden door towards the end...
Straightening the pack over her shoulders - the one containing the very important item - she approached the door. Elizabeth hadn't even changed out of her travel clothes, a white blouse tucked into her brown pants with a long blue jacket over the top. Her hair was in a slightly curled, knotted mess that she'd tried to brush out with her fingers, but it hadn't worked very well, the skyport and inns evident on every line. It wasn't her usual put-together look, but she hadn't wanted to waste another moment in getting her delivery to Deimos.
Still uncertain about the door, she knocked delicately, her voice calling out. [say]"Deimos? Are you there?"[/say]
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Deimos - 04-08-2025
Likewise, the Sword wished he didn’t have to spend time in the Council Hall. It was his least favorite meeting area – where he felt confined to hold to appointments and desks and piles of paper. He much preferred the office he held within the barracks; with his plans, machinations, and training all in one area.
So he grabbed hold of Erebos for the day, and sequestered himself in the room, listening, watching, as the toddler and Belial chased each other around the room, which was far more entertaining than the parchments before him – and an inevitable way for the youth to take a nap during some upcoming meetings.
Giggles and squeals echoed along the chamber, from companion and infant alike, to the point where he nearly didn’t hear Elizabeth knocking at the door. Glancing back at his schedule, he didn’t see her name scrolled across it, and half-wondered if this was something alarming and urgent. Slipping away from his desk, and scooping Erebos so the boy ended up collected under his arm, he opened the door. [say]“Yes. Everything all right?”[/say]
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Elizabeth - 04-08-2025
She barely noticed Belial in the room, distracted by Erebos dangling from the Warden's arm. It made her smile widen all the more, giving the toddler a wave. Her instincts called to ruffle his hair and joke about his predicament, but the item in her bag weighed heavy on her mind, and she turned to Deimos, slightly fidgety. [Say]"Better than all right."[/say]
Elizabeth turned her bag to her front, flipping it open to pull out the leather pouch as carefully as she could. There's a bit of reverence in her voice as she said, [Say]"I found this in the Greatwood yesterday, and thought it would be safest with you."[/say] Uncinching the bag, she opened it wide enough to reveal delicate red petals and golden thorns that caught the light.
Her smile was still disbelieving as she laughed, shaking her head to look at it again, certain it must have been a dream, but it still looked very much real. [Say]"It was honestly a surprise with everyone looking, but it just... popped up."[/say] Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, not sure how to describe the random appearance of the flower in her path, or how they'd almost stepped on it.
Looking up at Deimos again, she offered it forward. [Say]"Hopefully it helps."[/say]
Elizabeth gives Deimos Vi's Rose!
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Deimos - 04-08-2025
Erebos waved back, very unbothered and used to the position – before Deimos hiked him up higher into his arms, and the youth could use his father’s broad shoulders as some form of a handrail. When Elizabeth didn’t seem to be expressing any concern, the Sword’s brow arched, but he moved aside, giving her room to step within as Belial continued surging around corners.
His expectations had been one of alarm and danger – as most things had been in the past few seasons. When the notions were finally revealed and unfurled – resembling yet another of Vi’s Roses, his eyes widened. [say]“Quite a find. We should have sent you out searching sooner,” [/say]he rumbled in return, but his features had also been rendered into modicums of relief – because this flower could be another opportunity.[say] “Thank you.”[/say]
Taking it in his free hand, he pondered over the best venue of safety for it – sequestered secretly – before glancing back at Elizabeth. [say]“What would you like in return?”[/say] It was of incredible value; and she’d taken her time and energy to gather it amidst the enigmatic thresholds.
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Elizabeth - 04-09-2025
She pointedly ignored the peryton in favor of a laugh. [say]"I would have spent more time looking if I'd thought it'd be this easy, but I think it was purely luck. If anything, Theea might have been the good luck charm."[/say] Not to say she'd stop looking next time she was in the Greatwood, but she was nothing if not logical, and the probability of her finding a second one would border on being a miracle.
Letting the bag fall into Deimos's possession, she looked up at him in surprise. Not a would you like something?, but a what would you like?, as if it was a guarantee. Elizabeth couldn't tell whether she should be offended by the question, her smile faltering slightly. [say]"That wasn't really something I'd thought about..."[/say] Had she come off as someone who would only help if it was beneficial to her? Had her months of assistance been seen as a selfish means to an end rather than an intentional desire to improve her new home and the lives of the people in it? The suspicion was surprisingly hurtful, and she let it show through in the sadness of her smile. [say]"My only motive had been to help."[/say]
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Deimos - 04-09-2025
[say]“We take fortune where we can find it then,”[/say] and he allowed another smile – some other weight taken off of shoulders, mind whirling on the possibilities of next ventures.
But the surprise, and the sudden faltering of her smile, bewildered him too , eyes widening in his own modicum of confusion – wondering if he’d erred somewhere or this was simply a moment of miscommunication. There’d been no suspicion from the start; only an opportunity of bestowal he would’ve gladly obliged. [say]“My apologies.”[/say] Last time he and Flora had made exchanges of flowers and items, it had been purely transactional; and it’d been his only encounter with the roses, save for the plague circumstances long before that. [say]“The only other time I had been given one of these had been through a trade. I presumed you would want something as well.”[/say] Which he’d still bestow if she wanted – but given how things were now in the realm of confusion, maybe it scarcely mattered.
Erebos turned around, looked at Elizabeth, and giggled, clearly unbothered by the sudden turn of events. Perhaps it was the Sword’s own issues at fault too, for always thinking others wanted something from him.
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Elizabeth - 04-09-2025
It made her sad to think that Deimos thought that everything needed to be an exchange, that his first instinct was to assume she would deny people the relief of a flower for her own gain, even after she'd agreed to help. His admittance at least soothed the offense, although it shifted to something more concerned, worried about how his experiences had shaped his view of people.
Elizabeth let her smile settle again, more resolute than sad as she leaned forward to tap Erebos on the nose with a playful wink. [say]"No. If this helps bring people comfort, that's more than enough for me."[/say] Perhaps she wasn't the brave, altruistic type or the optimistic, hopeful who always saw the best in people, but she would always do what she could to help ease pain and anxiety in people, to guide them to feel comfortable and confident no matter where they were. If having a flower meant that it would decrease their worries (and the risk of mass hysteria), Elizabeth wouldn't withhold that from them. Tilting her head, she added, [say]"I only ask that you tell me if there are any other ways I can help."[/say] It wasn't something he had to do, not something she expected in 'exchange' for the rose, but something she would ask regardless.
Straightening again, she closed her bag, shifting it behind her as she gave Deimos a gentle smile. [say]"I should probably be going. I'm sure I reek of travel, and food and sleep don't sound too bad either."[/say] She laughed again. It wasn't as warm as before, but it was still soft, not letting any hard feelings linger between them.
RE: red lips and rosy cheeks - Deimos - 04-09-2025
He hadn’t thought she’d deny anyone anything; just that she’d wanted something in exchange, even if it was merely some treats or a favor. The leaps in presumptions had been great, and he found himself confused, bewildered, on how this had led to any significant hurt or malice. Momentarily bothered, striving to analyze how much he’d mistaken, especially based on many, many instances with others.
His brows furrowed again, unfurling a long breath to ease the new trials and tribulations in his ribs. But he nodded, accepting the notions and answers – for that was how he’d been applying all his methods and maneuvers as well – all for the greater good. [say]“All right. And thank you.”[/say] Pausing, his head tilted again, eyes flickering briefly to Erebos as the youth giggled once more. [say]“We do have a regional quest coming up, and will need your opinions and input on the matter, if you want to participate.”[/say] And while it had nothing to do with the Family, it certainly was a necessary front for Halo.
Thereafter though, since he’d thoroughly wrecked things, he nodded once more. [say]“I will make sure it is put to good use.”[/say] Then she’d have all manner of opportunity to commit to her tasks – and he’d have a new one at hand.
[FIN]