[Training] [SE] Got a pain in my mind

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

Having taken two seed pods from the grand tree, Maea had thought of the best place to plant them. One was easy enough, she felt better after burying it in the soil of her homeland so that the threat looming to the north might find some resistance waiting for it, should the taint ever try to spread across the narrow straits. 
As for the second one... that was more difficult. On one hand, Torchline seemed like the most obvious choice. Both the Ouerwoud and the Feverlands posed a threat to the tropical isles, and though she didn't think of the region as her home, it was the home of several of her friends. The same could probably be said about King's End, though. And if it was a choice between helping a large region with plenty of eager and able hands, and a region that was still getting its feet under itself, well. It wasn't really much of a choice at all. 

The only downside with the plan was that she by need had to pass by the House of Midnight on the way towards the borderlands. It was something she avoided when she could, for intimately personal reasons, and more recently because she didn't know what she would do if she came face to face with Sunjata again. The letter of apology she had sent to the region leaders was genuine, but that didn't really change the fact that her pride had taken a blow by the way Sunjata dismissed her in front of everyone. 
Roaming the flowering meadows, that whole debacle kept resurfacing in her mind over and over again, turning her gut sour and her eyes overcast, failing to appreciate the breathtaking beauty around her. Her pale bone-white tail lashed behind her as she went, decapitating fragrant stalks of grass and wildflower, generally leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

He had received the letter. He hadn’t known how to respond to it. So rather than send something without any mind or thought sent into it, Sunjata’s simply left it to be handled a different day. Today, however, Maea won’t have to worry about him being at the House of Midnight. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t far. And as she makes her way through the fields of flowers, she’ll stumble across a very familiar figure in the middle of a clearing free of the flowers, drenched with water.

In the glint of the sunlight, she’ll see the whip of water reflect as Sunjata practices his magic, letting it vanish without a trace before lifting his hands to drag up all the water he’d soaked the ground with (and himself, it looks like, with how wet his hair is and how his sleeveless shirt is drenched and trying to dry, clinging to the curves of his body). Once the water has been lifted, it’s swirled into essentially a Jetstream, aimed directly for a particular spot in the ground he’s claimed to be the target.

Here with the water surrounding him and the movements and strength renewed within the man, he looks every inch the moniker and demigod he is.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

Momentarily blinded by the dazzling light, her feet slowed and stopped her in the shade beneath a budding maple tree. Spellbound, though she knew it would be best for everyone if she simply turned around and kept walking, her legs wouldn't listen.
Why was it always water, with this man? Always sunlight and clear skies, tempting as an ocean lapping playfully against the shore. At first, anyway. The storms came later, after you tricked yourself into swimming far out to sea. That's when the drowning began, and the dying.

The trouble was, even when she knew all that, Maea still felt the pull of him. After all these years, after thoroughly and irrevocably severing their ties, and realizing that neither could ever give the other what they needed... gods, but he was still beautiful.

Drawing in a quiet breath, she began to back away. Drew her cloak about herself and stepped back, soft footed so as not to disturb him or draw attention to herself. But just as she turned to leave, a dry twig broke underfoot. The snap was crisp and dry, going off like a gunshot, and delicate shoulders came up with a hiss of half panic - Fuck.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

The twig snaps and Sunjata, already in the middle of heightened attention and adrenaline from working out his muscles and magic, immediately turns toward the cracking sound. Squinting through the light, the water drops around him and soaks back into the already damp earth, steel eyes made nearly white with the sun shining as hard as it does.

It’s difficult for him to tell at this distance who it is, but a pale tail can be seen under the cloak that he does register, and for a moment there’s a thought that crosses his mind like oh fuck.

It would be too awkward to ignore it, though, so he clears his throat and calls out “hey Maea.” An olive branch, an invitation, allowing her to come closer should she wish to – but saying nothing more than that just yet.

No, instead, the Flood simply plucks another ribbon of water, letting it dance through his fingers and the air, watching and waiting to see if she decides to leave or stay. He wasn't going to force her to do anything.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

Grimacing wildly to herself, the drop of her name into the wind brough about a quiet sigh. Too late to run now. And that was the whole problem with stopping to peek.
"Hello, Sunjata." Slowly turning to face him, Maea pushed the hood back from her face. Silvery hair tumbled free about her shoulders, drifting like windblown silk in the breeze. "Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just passing through." 

Unsure whether to leave or linger, she gazed across the meadow at him. It felt strange to see him like this; strange to be on speaking terms at all, even if the unanswered letter hung in the air like unfinished business. It wasn't like she had expected any replies, though; it wasn't that kind of apology.
Fumbling for something to say, in the end she fell back on platitudes. "Are you well?" Attempting a smile, she immediately thought better of it. If there was one person in the world who could recognize when she was faking it, it would be the Flood. Somehow she doubted that the years had changed that.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

“You didn’t.” He starts to say, wiping his hands briefly before rubbing his forehead and temple with the back of his hand, trying to wipe away some of the sweat glittering from his suntanned skin. “I was just practicing my magic.” He shrugs those broad shoulders of his casually, the compasses on his neck pointing toward her as he faces her more fully, wondering whether or not she’d intended to stick around.

A lot had changed in the years past, and he looks as though he’d certainly lived it – with the sprinkling of grey strands of hair throughout the brown, but with all the scars that remained since before the war. “As well as I can be.” He offers her, flashing a crooked smile (only these days it’s because of the scar that bisects his cheek as opposed to the roguish charm of before). “What about you?” He’d noticed the attempt at the smile, a fake one, might he add, because yes, he does remember. He used to be able to read her like a book. And it’s that more calculating look in his bright steel eyes that he scans her over, as if trying to guestimate what exactly was wrong.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

According the assurance with a simple nod, Maea's gazed lingered on her former lover, taking in all the changes time har wrought on him. In comparison, she had changed very little. Years as ascended and encapsuled in stone left her looking like same barely-grown girl he had coaxed into the river once; unmarred by scars or traces of the ordeals the had lived through. Only her eyes told the truth of the real wounds the carried; internalized where his lay painted across his skin, and arguably less healed as a result.
"I see. That's good." Anything but screaming agony was good, right? Tucking a strand of hair behind an ear, her gaze drifted off. "Well... I've been better. It's self inflicted though, so I will deal." Her shrug was a mild rise and fall of her black-clad shoulders, hands splaying out in a palms up gesture as if to say 'it is what it is'.

"Would you like some assistance? Or shall I take my leave?" Gesturing lightly at the glittering strands of water he wove, it was reflex more than habit that fueled the offer. She looked surprised at herself, then resigned; then a real smile ghosted across her lips, fleeting and ironic, but real.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

Humming an accented note of agreement, Sunjata’s gaze lingers on her a few more moments, allowing her the chance to look him over just as he does the same to her. The stream of water glitters as he moves it through the air, only to snort a little at her answer and flash her another crooked smile. “Yeah, well, that’s how it always goes, huh?” He says with a sigh and a wince. He’d done the same thing, but he’d been learning, changing, becoming a better version of himself.

“Sure.” He accepts the offer easily and with a glimmer of mischief in the steel of his eyes, gesturing for her to join him in the damp circle he’s created. “I remember once upon a time you asked me to help you with your magic. Seems only fair?” Bouncing a scarred brow – courtesy of Ronin – he cocks his head toward her as he waits for her to ready up. “We can talk about what’s going on, unless I already know about it and it's about the Grounds meeting.” Which felt like forever ago, and Sunjata was nothing if not capable of diffusing situations regardless of how shitty with words he was.

That’s what his body was for.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

It really was. She hummed in rueful agreement, and came walking towards him when the offer was accepted. Unclasping the cloak and letting it drop unceremoniously between flowering bulbs and fresh shoots of spiring grass, the dress she wore beneath was just as black, hugging her supple curves and offering a tantalizing glimpse of creamy skin where the neckline plunged down her torso. For being her it was a bold choice, stern yet elegant; and in the light a faint pattern like scales could be seen in the velvet cloth, shimmering like an oil spill or tiny rainbows.
"That was a really long time ago, I'm surprised you remember," she replied, surprising herself with a laugh. "My magic is a bit different now though..." With a sparking sound a flame appeared in the air before her. Feeding it with her energy, it expanded and mimicked the pattern his water painted. "Spar, or something else?" If she was going to help, she might as well do it properly.

The offer to talk once again surprised her. Considering whether it was something she actually wanted, Maea eventually capitulated before the discomfort and sighed. "It is, and it isn't. What happened at the meeting was only a symptom of a larger issue, I've realized... and it's gotten worse lately. To the point where I hurt someone I actually wanted to help."

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

A snort slips from him, his roguish charm on display as he faces her more while she readies up, keeping the stream of water dancing between his fingers. “I’ve forgotten a lot of things, but some shit sticks around.” He shrugs lightly, watching as she sparks the fire between her hands. He’s familiar with the Ancients enough to know that fire was a commonality amongst them. The rest, though, Sunjata’s unfortunately unaware of.

“Spar and chat. How’s that?” He says, already letting that flickering ribbon of water grow and grow, until it’s nearly a small stream in the air, swirling around him. He doesn’t aim it just yet, listening to her words, scanning her and the oil slick fine clothes she wears, so at odds with the girl of his past. “What’s the larger issue?” He probes, swirling the water once before he jets it toward her, aiming to douse the flame in her hands.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

Maea supposed she ought to be grateful that he didn't remember everything, because she certainly did not and it would have been mortifying to admit to forgetting. But... only to admit it. Charming smiles aside, there was enough bitterness lingering between the sweet memories that it spoiled the whole recollection - perhaps she wouldn't mind too much, if she never had to think about them again.

"Sounds fair. Let's do it."
Needing to focus on the conversation and his movements turned her replies shorter and far more succinct than they otherwise might have been. A good thing, perhaps; it kept things brief and to the point. Engorging her flames into an orb of great proportions to meet the approaching water, a violent bubble and hissing sound started where opposing forces collided. A violent eruption of steam had Maea retreating hastily, only to recall belatedly that the heat wouldn't do her any harm.
"Me," she replied, her tone dry with irony. "My hubris, how any bit of power goes straight to my head - and the fact that I try to change but nothing actually happens."

Summoning more fire, she split it up into three orbs and sent them flying towards Sunjata, like miniature suns blazing in the haze they had created. Two of them swerved off to the sides, attempting to catch him off guard.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

Water bubbles and steam fills the air as the two elements hiss and douse each other. Sunjata’s steel gaze remains just as focused on her, watching her hand movements as he starts to create more water, listening as she speaks on what precisely the issue is. Thankfully, given some time to mull it over as she creates the orbs of fire, Sunjata’s water begins to swirl around him in a shield of moving water, like he’s trapped on the inside of a rushing river.

The shield provides enough cover for the orbs to dive in, hissing and steaming into nothing but white smoke, until each one of them has vanished and Sunjata drops the shield, collecting another stream of water, this time this one lashes out toward her in the hopes of grappling her arm. “I think, honestly, it’s that you care too much. You wanna try and have everyone look at things the way you do because it’s more comfortable for you.” Lips forming a slight frown as a bead of sweat drops from his temple from both the exertion and the heat, it sparks a dark floral tattoo to form along the side of his face. “I can tell you from personal experience, it’s not gonna work like that, power or no power.” You can’t change people that don’t want to change, and power is simply a crutch to utilize when talking doesn’t. A boost of self importance, of ego.

The amount of times he’d crowed about trying to save the Ascended, rather than war, because they were people too and the majority of them were his friends — had done very little in his attempts to try to even the playing field. In the end, the war happened, many died, and there was nothing more Sunjata could do other than grieve and lose so much of a part of himself that he couldn’t even go and see Frey. And yet, by the end of it, he had become somehow just as strong as Remi and Ronin, without all of the cockiness to get there.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //

Maea

You think killing is hard?
Try healing something. That is hard.

Attempting to dodge the chain of water that snaked towards her, she wasn't fast enough to avoid getting caught. Gasping at the chill of the pure waters as it engulfed her balled up fist and soaked her sleeve to te elbow, she tried to pull her arm out even as she sent a burst of distracting sparks towards Sunjata's face.

His assessment of her stung and burned. Maea begrudgingly accepted that had to mean he was onto something. "Isn't that the same for everyone, though?" she argued. "That's why people group together at all, because they want the same things. If I just stopped giving a damn about anything... First of all, I don't know how to do that. Secondly, isn't that a problem in itself? Then I'd just be a cold-hearted bitch who rely on others to solve problems, instead of a hero-complex self-absorbed martyr."

The words were bit off with a snap that spoke of pain, hidden behind a cocksure tone that might be convincing to anyone who didn't know her.

You can break something in two seconds
But it can take forever to fix it

THE FLOOD

// take my heart and make it feel,
take my soul and make it real

Water rises from another source, this time spreading out in a fan around his shoulder and face, trying to block out the majority of the sparks even as it does cause him to close his eyes briefly if only to ensure she doesn’t blind him.

Blinking back to the conversation, the water forms another tangible ribbon, aiming for her other arm this time, almost as if he’s trying to bind her with the water still glittering from the sunlight. “Yes and no.” Sunjata announces to her comment over whether people grouped together. “There’s a… Certain beauty in learning about how different people can be, y’know? I mean, fuck, you know my history. I was a prince with a silver spoon that had to adapt and change to join up with the resistance. There’s so much I would have missed out on had I stuck with my own crowd. But that doesn’t mean I agreed with everything they did.” Raising a scarred brow toward her, he shrugs before continuing, while more sweat beads down from his temple and sparks more floral dark tattoos on his face.

“You remember when the war was ramping up? I was an old god demigod that fought for the Ascended. I wanted to be a hero and change people's minds.” I wanted to save Nate, to fight for the underdogs like I’d done before. “And I lost everything. I lost my daughter. I lost Nate.” Kamaria was up in the stars and Nate was thankfully in Mort’s halls, but gods it had destroyed him. “I couldn’t even go and see Frey.” Not without a blindfold, at least.

It had felt like his life had ended the second the war ended and Isla had told him the news. And it had taken even longer before Sunjata had wanted to change and put forth the effort. And now? Because of it, he's here, running this region, past ruined relationships slowly repairing. Life moving on.

'cause i was bright, yeah I was pale and blue,
starry eyed by every thought of you //