Confidence. There were some areas in which Alys had confidence in spades. Her looks were not one of them. She had never considered herself to be a woman of traditional beauty - not like Hotaru, who was gorgeous without, it seemed, even trying to be. So when someone like her offered someone like Alys praise, the latter's cheeks flushed with pleasure and gratitude.
She surveyed herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, admiring the way the cloak swirled around her. Hotaru was right - the burgundy brought out faint color in her cheeks, immediately making her look more lively and - dare she think it - pretty. It helped, too, that it was much warmer than what she'd had on before - Halovian clothes really were of a different make, it seemed.
She inspected the inner pockets that Hotaru pointed out, her glee slowly turning to dread in her stomach. She'd never owned something quite so fine before, and she wasn't sure if she could afford it. After all, being a Seer wasn't a very lucrative profession - particularly when the potential patrons she'd met thus far in Halo had been rather prickly. But then she thought of Tal and, now, Hotaru, and she softened a little. Even Deimos, gruff though he may be, had been patient and kind with her. Perhaps she'd judged the frigid area too harshly. She could be grumpy at times, too.
At Hotaru's offer to put the clothes on her tab, Alys blanched. She whirled to face her new friend. "I couldn't possibly let you do that!" she exclaimed, shaking her head, sending her dark curls flying. Of course, that was probably the only way she'd be able to afford the clothes, and this was only their first stop for cloaks. If the shopping trip went the way that Alys thought it would, she was sure to have more new purchases coming her way.
Alys swallowed her longing. She was simply too prideful to accept charity.
She surveyed herself in the mirror, turning this way and that, admiring the way the cloak swirled around her. Hotaru was right - the burgundy brought out faint color in her cheeks, immediately making her look more lively and - dare she think it - pretty. It helped, too, that it was much warmer than what she'd had on before - Halovian clothes really were of a different make, it seemed.
She inspected the inner pockets that Hotaru pointed out, her glee slowly turning to dread in her stomach. She'd never owned something quite so fine before, and she wasn't sure if she could afford it. After all, being a Seer wasn't a very lucrative profession - particularly when the potential patrons she'd met thus far in Halo had been rather prickly. But then she thought of Tal and, now, Hotaru, and she softened a little. Even Deimos, gruff though he may be, had been patient and kind with her. Perhaps she'd judged the frigid area too harshly. She could be grumpy at times, too.
At Hotaru's offer to put the clothes on her tab, Alys blanched. She whirled to face her new friend. "I couldn't possibly let you do that!" she exclaimed, shaking her head, sending her dark curls flying. Of course, that was probably the only way she'd be able to afford the clothes, and this was only their first stop for cloaks. If the shopping trip went the way that Alys thought it would, she was sure to have more new purchases coming her way.
Alys swallowed her longing. She was simply too prideful to accept charity.
alys glasse
waiting for the right mind to drive insane
