plenty other hands to hold

and look for the stars as the sun goes down
each breath that you take has a thunderous sound

"Oh. I'm... sorry. I didn't realize." There's heat and embarrassment in her cheeks, as well as a certain degree of uncertainty. Amalia has done her best to avoid thinking about the strange not-child; that they should lack identifiable gender only makes sense, she supposes. They also, she assumes, lack a soul- but now is hardly the time to go into that.

She has enough to unpack as it is.

Despite her trepidation as to the validity of Azrael as an actual living being, the Shield feels herself smile while she listens to Bastien's obvious pride. She might have forgotten her other topics as well if it hadn't been for Deimos' name, slipping out of his mouth like a slap right across her face. "I... oh." She's grateful to be sitting down, trying desperately to rally. "I think he'll like that. To spend time with them. Especially since..."

Her expression breaks then and she looks away, knitting her brows to keep back the tears. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. "Bastien... Gods, I'm so sorry. Kia, she... there was an expedition, and lava, and I tried to catch her but---" She cuts off as her voice breaks, the last words hanging unsaid.

Amalia