eyes can't shine unless there's something burning bright behind
By now, people's reaction to her origins don't surprise her anymore. Things are very different here, and in other worlds. So when Wessex's eyes stretch wider, she's unperturbed by it and even offers a light shrug in return. There's not much point in feeling sorry for it anymore, except to feel sorry for those she left behind, in that desolate place. That part does haunt her, but there's nothing she can do for them from here. She doesn't think so, anyway.
But when Wessex explains how life was in the Grounds, and the magical barrier trapping everyone within, it's Aurelia's turn for her eyes to widen and her brows to raise up in shock. Similar, yes, in a way - but also very different. Aurelia's people still had the option to explore beyond their means, if they were stupid enough to choose that. Some people were. People like her. That's how she'd ended up here, after all. Stumbled into some sort of wormhole or portal or... something or other.
"It must have been great to have the barrier taken down, though," she says, trying to empathize but also uplift, "and you're able to explore the whole world now." Of course, Aurelia has no idea that it wasn't as simple as that - nor that Wessex played a large role in a lot of things ending up the way they are now. "Do you think you'll stay in the Grounds?" Aurelia squints thoughtfully, "If I had the option to, I really don't know if I would return home or not... I'm happier here, my life is better in many ways... but my sisters are there..." She grimaces and returns to her whiskey.
But when Wessex explains how life was in the Grounds, and the magical barrier trapping everyone within, it's Aurelia's turn for her eyes to widen and her brows to raise up in shock. Similar, yes, in a way - but also very different. Aurelia's people still had the option to explore beyond their means, if they were stupid enough to choose that. Some people were. People like her. That's how she'd ended up here, after all. Stumbled into some sort of wormhole or portal or... something or other.
"It must have been great to have the barrier taken down, though," she says, trying to empathize but also uplift, "and you're able to explore the whole world now." Of course, Aurelia has no idea that it wasn't as simple as that - nor that Wessex played a large role in a lot of things ending up the way they are now. "Do you think you'll stay in the Grounds?" Aurelia squints thoughtfully, "If I had the option to, I really don't know if I would return home or not... I'm happier here, my life is better in many ways... but my sisters are there..." She grimaces and returns to her whiskey.
Aurelia
