// I tried to scream but my head was underwater //
A strange sense of deja vu was settling over Maea. This scene was oddly familiar, like she'd been here before. Or perhaps it was simply a memory. The way they whispered to each other, and the sidelong glance to make sure she saw them - it was the kind of childish torment she had suffered often, growing up. How peculiar, to see grown people engage in such behavior. Well - strange to see Asta initiate it, at least. Flora was definitely young enough that immaturity shouldn't surprise anyone.
Was that a bottom she experienced at the end of the sinking? It was a relief that no one was shouting at her - Asta's smile looked painful but it was better than yelling or fighting. Maybe she wasn't dying after all? A thread of emotion wound along the edge of awareness, faint and nameless; Maea clung to it, because anything was better than breaking down in front of these people. Not quite anger, or even patience, it let her steady her breath somewhat. And even though her legs remained locked, she could swallow. Move her tongue over parched lips - only to find that she didn't have anything she wanted to say.
Maea could explain where this had gone wrong... but was there a point, when these people had already settled their opinions on her?
Blinking slowly, her gaze refocused and met each of theirs briefly. Waiting in silence, to see whether they would care to share their conversation or continue on their way. Shifting her jaw in a subtly stubborn expression, a thought flitted past that even if she could bring herself to leave, Maea might remain anyway - for no reason other than because she was there first.
Gods, spare her from herself. This could definitely still get worse.
Was that a bottom she experienced at the end of the sinking? It was a relief that no one was shouting at her - Asta's smile looked painful but it was better than yelling or fighting. Maybe she wasn't dying after all? A thread of emotion wound along the edge of awareness, faint and nameless; Maea clung to it, because anything was better than breaking down in front of these people. Not quite anger, or even patience, it let her steady her breath somewhat. And even though her legs remained locked, she could swallow. Move her tongue over parched lips - only to find that she didn't have anything she wanted to say.
Maea could explain where this had gone wrong... but was there a point, when these people had already settled their opinions on her?
Blinking slowly, her gaze refocused and met each of theirs briefly. Waiting in silence, to see whether they would care to share their conversation or continue on their way. Shifting her jaw in a subtly stubborn expression, a thought flitted past that even if she could bring herself to leave, Maea might remain anyway - for no reason other than because she was there first.
Gods, spare her from herself. This could definitely still get worse.
Maea
// They called me weak, like I'm not just somebody's daughter //
