AINO
Slowly, Aino's hands came to a stop. As the silence dragged out, her face grew gradually harder to read, as emotions boiled up beneath a mask of neutrality. When Sah was beckoned over to Ilma - soft and warm, all rough edges lost as the motherly switch was turned on - Aino left the dishes and reached for a teapot. Filling it with water, she placed it over the fire; this called for tea, not vodka. Or maybe... she let the bottle sit in the open, just in case.
Then she too came over. Not to offer hugs - it was not in her nature - but to drag a chair over and sit close, offering her presence as best she could.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Sah." Her voice was quiet, with sympathy hidden beneath layers of carefully arranged calm. "I'm sure mum told you already, but we lost family too. Not too long ago." A glance at Ilma saw the elderly woman nod in confirmation, as she stroked a soothing hand over Sah's hair.
"We cannot replace them, nor will we try," Ilma soothed. "But you cannot survive Halo on your own. No matter how many friends you have, or how lovely your new follower is."
Then she too came over. Not to offer hugs - it was not in her nature - but to drag a chair over and sit close, offering her presence as best she could.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Sah." Her voice was quiet, with sympathy hidden beneath layers of carefully arranged calm. "I'm sure mum told you already, but we lost family too. Not too long ago." A glance at Ilma saw the elderly woman nod in confirmation, as she stroked a soothing hand over Sah's hair.
"We cannot replace them, nor will we try," Ilma soothed. "But you cannot survive Halo on your own. No matter how many friends you have, or how lovely your new follower is."
Come and conquer, drop your bombs
Cross my borders and kill the calm
Cross my borders and kill the calm
