EVIE
Not wanting to make too grand a gesture of it, but incapable of not being sincere, Evie lifts her gaze enough to meet his instead of hiding her small, pleased smile. “I know. So are you.” Safe to share these little things, memories of his birth land and various preferences. Information she would never part with without his consent.
It’s a relief that he doesn’t seem to pin the nature of her answer, and she doesn’t seek to correct him. Evie can’t help but fret over the weight of her emotions, always hesitant to share them lest they become a burden on whoever is receiving them. It’s why she has always been some chaotic mix of bullheaded and kind, but has never built very many close relationships. Even though Deimos is the only one who remains with that distinction, scaring him off somehow still seems too real a possibility. Her parents and their insistence on presenting a certain way had caused damage she isn’t sure how to navigate. But here in this small, homely kitchen with what is surely her only - and best - friend, even those old habits and traumas can’t touch her. She is safe here. Because he is too.
Her eyes widen with each revelation, heels bouncing faster with unrestrained eagerness. “I’ve never been in a hot spring, it sounds amazing,” she breathes, completely forgetting the small remnants of dough in favor of searching the Sword’s face. “We should go! It’s still cool enough to be enjoyable. Or maybe the Whispershore, though I’m not the strongest swimmer.” The Oasis was the only reliable vestige of water in the Grounds, which didn’t provide experience with currents or deeper pools. “My least favorite is the Spire,” she admits softly with a pinch to her mouth. Not wanting to ruin the mood entirely with talk of The Voice and all they’d suffered because of her, she casts around for another answer. “And most of The Climb. The earth there feels wrong. Even in Hak Etme there’s plants, but the magma blots everything out. It’s awful - and hot.” Nose wrinkles petulantly at that, huffing a laugh. “But don’t get me wrong, I still want to try the hot spring!” Hoping her slight slip up wouldn’t prompt him to consider his least favorite in the light of what had emotionally harmed him most, she poses the question back; “What’s your least favorite?”
Realizing they’d spent enough time talking that the cookies had cooled without their noticing, Evie leans over to pluck a ningo from the tray and splits it in half, holding one piece out to Deimos with a grin. Not that it distracts her from this new game they have going, already concocting another question. “Also - when you’re not training or killing creatures of legend, what do you do for fun?”
It’s a relief that he doesn’t seem to pin the nature of her answer, and she doesn’t seek to correct him. Evie can’t help but fret over the weight of her emotions, always hesitant to share them lest they become a burden on whoever is receiving them. It’s why she has always been some chaotic mix of bullheaded and kind, but has never built very many close relationships. Even though Deimos is the only one who remains with that distinction, scaring him off somehow still seems too real a possibility. Her parents and their insistence on presenting a certain way had caused damage she isn’t sure how to navigate. But here in this small, homely kitchen with what is surely her only - and best - friend, even those old habits and traumas can’t touch her. She is safe here. Because he is too.
Her eyes widen with each revelation, heels bouncing faster with unrestrained eagerness. “I’ve never been in a hot spring, it sounds amazing,” she breathes, completely forgetting the small remnants of dough in favor of searching the Sword’s face. “We should go! It’s still cool enough to be enjoyable. Or maybe the Whispershore, though I’m not the strongest swimmer.” The Oasis was the only reliable vestige of water in the Grounds, which didn’t provide experience with currents or deeper pools. “My least favorite is the Spire,” she admits softly with a pinch to her mouth. Not wanting to ruin the mood entirely with talk of The Voice and all they’d suffered because of her, she casts around for another answer. “And most of The Climb. The earth there feels wrong. Even in Hak Etme there’s plants, but the magma blots everything out. It’s awful - and hot.” Nose wrinkles petulantly at that, huffing a laugh. “But don’t get me wrong, I still want to try the hot spring!” Hoping her slight slip up wouldn’t prompt him to consider his least favorite in the light of what had emotionally harmed him most, she poses the question back; “What’s your least favorite?”
Realizing they’d spent enough time talking that the cookies had cooled without their noticing, Evie leans over to pluck a ningo from the tray and splits it in half, holding one piece out to Deimos with a grin. Not that it distracts her from this new game they have going, already concocting another question. “Also - when you’re not training or killing creatures of legend, what do you do for fun?”
Don't look up, just let them think
There's no place else you'd rather be
There's no place else you'd rather be
