[SE] Walking in the purple rain

// I tried to scream but my head was underwater //

His sympathy was gratifying, even when there wasn't much if anything that he could do. The offer to help with the search for flowers was generous too, but Maea knew what hot commodity they were right now, and so shook her head.

"I appreciate the offer, but you should look to your own needs first. Even if I find a flower tomorrow it won't count for much... if I'm going to look for the things, I might as well try for a few." Underestimating how rare they were, in Maea's mind it shouldn't take too long; just rotate through the Climb and the Greatwood until luck and chance favored her, return to hand them over in triumphant victory, and then... well, she could think about what to do next once she was back and had a roof over her head.

Still caught up in her own thoughts, she barely registered the question about some quest. "Hm? Yeah sure. Alys knows who I am already, it's no problem..." Hoping he would forgive her for not wishing to dwell on her recent passing, Maea picked up her spoon and hacked listlessly at the jelly, half melted now in the heat. The violet patterns it created in the cream would have been pretty if not for the evil connotation the color had gained of late.
"Anyway, it looks like I will do some vagabondeering for a while longer. Any chance you're passing by the Climb anytime soon? It's closer, might as well start there."

Maea

// They called me weak, like I'm not just somebody's daughter //

He hesitated but then nodded slowly. He figured it was a pride thing, because that's definitely what it would have been for him, but he could respect that. Accepting help was never easy, even from friends, and it was even harder when that help could possibly be mistaken for charity if you squinted at it in the right light. So he didn't push, just reached across the table to awkwardly pat her hand. "Right, well... I'll be rootin' for you, at least. An' lemme know when you're ready t'build your new home, yeah?"

He knew it was a weird question and it wasn't technically his quest, but he still relaxed a little when she agreed so readily. "That'd be great, thanks. I'll let 'er know you're willin'!" And maybe sensing some of Maea's reluctance to speak on it further when he had his own trauma that he was still trying to avoid processing, he sat back without prying further. Though he did grimace when she lifted her spoon again to take another stab at the jellyfish.

"Hmm?" Visions of doing some stabbing of his own at nasty violet tentacles twisted in his mind with blood splashed on the snow and he had to shake his head to refocus on her question. "Oh, uh... yeah, should be. I'll be takin' Alys up t'Halo soon so we'll be goin' right over it. Might as well stop an' do some flower huntin' while we're passin' through. I'll keep an eye out for you. Maybe you guys can meet up there, even?"

// I tried to scream but my head was underwater //

Tal's hand was not quite as warm as it should be in the dense Torchline heat, but Maea wasn't paying enough attention to notice. She was just grateful for the gesture, and returned it by stacking her own free hand over his, like athletes before the all important match. The camaraderie warmed her, and the laying down of game plans eased several burdens off her shoulders.

"Thank you. We'll see what becomes convenient, yeah? Depending on what I find - or don't find - I might continue on to the Greatwood by way of Dygra's portal."
Deciding she was done with the mauling of the dessert, she pushed it to the other side of the table where it couldn't offend anyone. While sipping the rest of her tea the conversation turned to lighter, more practical things like departure times and meeting places, how they were all going to fit on the small Peregrine - Maea offered to sleep on the deck in her tiger shift, but was quickly denied dye to fire hazards - and by the time they rose from their seats to part ways she'd laughed at least a few times, feeling much better for it.

"See you later, Tal," she told him, with a casual wave before sauntering off down the road. She had packing to do, and funds to go over, and new plans to make; no rest for the wicked, alas.

[FIN]

Maea

// They called me weak, like I'm not just somebody's daughter //