Down and out, and out of luck, we're spinning but the needle's stuck
Hugging an armful of books tighter to the chest, Maea flinched at Tal's tone. She tried to keep it at arm's length, tried to remain rational - he was probably right, and they should open up more - but it was impossible not to feel attacked by the implication that she was endagering everyone by not moving on fast enough.
Tension settled in creases around her eyes. Turning her back to stack the books, Kiada's voice buoyed her and eased the helpless ache in her chest - for two people who had barely crossed paths they sure had much in common - and by the time she finished, Maea had her emotions in enough control that she trusted herself to speak.
"Dantalion is the one who brought me back from stone. He is the ruler of this region. If he says it's okay for you to build the shrine even though you don't live here, then I'll accept it. That is my answer." Was it a coward's answer? Maybe. The truth was, Maea didn't know what to think. Logical reasoning told her that Tal had a point, but also that outsiders shouldn't be able to do whatever they wanted in a place they didn't live in. And emotionally, she feared the complications that might come with accepting all the gods on the same land. Would Safrin curse them again, like she had the Ascended? Would Ludo accept their ghosts? And beyond them, would the Hollowed Grounds become a frontline in the game between Caido and Dygra?
Change is everything, the goddess of Entropy had said, but all Maea wanted in this moment was at least one place to return to that wasn't thrown into turmoil. Someplace where she could heal, and rebuild, and discover who she had become on this her third chance at life.
This office was one part of that. Looking around, she saw the rooms around her looking fresh and clean, ready for use; attaching the sign to the outside of the door was the final touch.
"That's the last of it," she said to the two of them. "Thank you so much for helping me, I truly appreciate it."
Completed! Thank you for helping out! Feel free to wrap up however you like. <3
Tension settled in creases around her eyes. Turning her back to stack the books, Kiada's voice buoyed her and eased the helpless ache in her chest - for two people who had barely crossed paths they sure had much in common - and by the time she finished, Maea had her emotions in enough control that she trusted herself to speak.
"Dantalion is the one who brought me back from stone. He is the ruler of this region. If he says it's okay for you to build the shrine even though you don't live here, then I'll accept it. That is my answer." Was it a coward's answer? Maybe. The truth was, Maea didn't know what to think. Logical reasoning told her that Tal had a point, but also that outsiders shouldn't be able to do whatever they wanted in a place they didn't live in. And emotionally, she feared the complications that might come with accepting all the gods on the same land. Would Safrin curse them again, like she had the Ascended? Would Ludo accept their ghosts? And beyond them, would the Hollowed Grounds become a frontline in the game between Caido and Dygra?
Change is everything, the goddess of Entropy had said, but all Maea wanted in this moment was at least one place to return to that wasn't thrown into turmoil. Someplace where she could heal, and rebuild, and discover who she had become on this her third chance at life.
This office was one part of that. Looking around, she saw the rooms around her looking fresh and clean, ready for use; attaching the sign to the outside of the door was the final touch.
"That's the last of it," she said to the two of them. "Thank you so much for helping me, I truly appreciate it."
Completed! Thank you for helping out! Feel free to wrap up however you like. <3
Maea
