{SE} Like a dream we're living in

I count your heartbeats before you sleep
I bite my fingernails to bone

Evie had not intended to meet Hadama on such a macabre island, but she had never ventured to its shores, and had only known it by name. Strangely, it is less off-putting now compared to the void entities spawning throughout Caido, so perhaps now is the perfect time to visit.

Evie is often early to most things, so she is accustomed to bringing things along to occupy herself in the time between. She sits on the minimal shoreline the island has on the southern side, comfortably cross-legged as she whittles and carves at a piece of wood in her hands. It's not her strongest skill, but it's a gift for one of the doctors at the infirmary who had bemoaned breaking her hair comb after her hair had grown tangled from so much overtime helping the injured after the impact. Given she has more reason to travel outside Halo, she'd been able to source a much hardier wood, and it's comforting to sit and make progress on the project while she waits for Hadama to arrive.

And now I crawl back under the stairwell
To a place I call my home

Evie

Hadama had once been early as well, such that they had often shown up to their meetings within minutes of each other. That had been before the Void had come to Torchline and the sky had fallen down upon their heads. Before the meteor had made its new home in his ocean, crouching with malevolent menace on a horizon that was cracked and bleeding violet light that corrupted what it touched.

'Early' was an indulgence that had been washed away with Kaiholo Port, along with sleep, smiles, and peace of mind.

But even so, the mermanta knew his limits, and the importance of caring for himself so that he could continue to care for his people. Scheduling time to spend with his dearest friend was an important aspect of that care, and at least on Metacarpal Island they were less likely to run into the void-touched that plagued the rest of Caido.

The Island had a way of taking care of itself.

The King arrived on time, at least. He had brought his trident, but also swam with the unwieldy burden of a large net bag filled with a particularly tough and fibrous kelp. "Evie," he called in greeting, rising to the surface a short distance from her and swimming to the shore. "Have you been well?"