[Training] onyx armor for my eyes

Aurelia

Aurelia trepidates over the decision that she isn't herself. A sad, bitter smile takes form on her face and she sighs with it. "I wish that were the case," she replies, tone as quiet, as thoughtful. She walks slowly forward. Understanding that not many are going to take her word for it, she takes a few moments to think of how she might convince her friend. "Melita. It's me. We... you made flower crowns for us in the Wilds. We talked about family, about the worlds we came from. Your favorite sea animal.. is an-" she shakes her head and scoffs slightly, "-an empanada. Or a dolphin."

She stops, still several feet away, eyeing the things and weapons that Melita has strewn about. She makes no move to provoke her, knowing that the girl is likely to accompany her bark with her bite. "It's not a trick, I swear... something changed the way I look," she tries once again to drive the truth in. Her shoulders slump downward in defeat and her heels sink deeper into the sand.

Looking away, her fingers thread through her hair. The ocean waves carry over the sands, tumbling across her feet. She doesn't move in reaction, just watches as the foam bubbles away. "Well, I thought you should know..." her voice wavers with a hardened edge, "I'm not sailing with the Ark anymore, so.. it'll just be you and Jack this Leafchange."

looking in the mirror, drop of rum on my tongue
with the warning to help me see myself clearer