Welcome to Gaia! ::

Blue eyes blinked owlishly at Floki at his explanation of the Gods and how they walked among men in flesh and bone. It was a very odd notion and, to tell the truth, something that the young woman couldn’t quite wrap her brain around. Sure, it was an easy enough concept, but to think that beings that people worshipped, or had worshipped, walked and lived among them was odd. What made them different then from the rest of the people who inhabited the world? Yes, it was a very odd concept, but with the look in Floki’s eyes as he spoke about it, Arista knew not to even attempt to try and counter his thinking. She’d accept it as thus and just quietly question it as she continued to observe everything. “A king in name only.” She muttered under her breath more to herself than to Floki.

She walked contently, arm entwined with Floki’s, as the young man led the way through the harbour. Curious glances were sent their way and Arista noted that not all of them were at her but her male companion. It was intriguing, and she began to wonder if maybe this had to do with his story about the Gods and how he housed the King of Gods within him. Did people know this? Was he well known? Did they just sense something in him? Or were they merely just curious of him due to his slender, more feminine, appearance. When compared to the other men she had seen on this world, he certainly didn’t fit the mold.

“Hm. That sounds like a terribly old alliance that, like you’ve assumed, probably perished with the lovers. Alliances can be incredibly fickle things.” She shrugged lightly. “Though you may be surprised. Maybe one day that alliance will rekindle itself for one reason or another. Or, perhaps, it never fully went away. People sometimes have strong notions of honor and feel the need to uphold such things.”

Alliances were what Arista was being trained in making. It wasn’t an easy thing. She knew there would be times she’d create one on very rocky terrain, or just fail completely. But, it was what her world did. They worked as mediators between worlds or countries on worlds to help create peace. One day she’d be out on her own, taking up her own duties, and as much as she wished to offer advice, she knew that she wasn’t ready. Not to tackle something like this. Besides, she hadn’t been asked here for that. She was here merely to observe and learn. To grow and understand how the universe worked.

Thankfully the somber tone of the conversation was quickly elevated at the mention of taverns. Arista would have been quite upset with herself if the conversation hadn’t turned around at Floki had decided to part ways with her. “Well I am excited to see this then!” She offered up a smile, a slightly spring appearing in her step as she realized they were nearing a place of topic courtesy of the overflowing music. “I’d rather not see any fighting but, well, I will take it as the nature of the establishment. Maybe I’ll learn a few things while I am here. I certainly can’t walk away knowing any less.” She giggled happily, almost girlish in nature, marking the fact that the young woman was still just barely out of the throws of childhood.

As they entered the ship, Arista’s senses were almost overloaded. There was so much to see as men and women alike drank, talked (or yelled in some instances), while she could smell the stench of bodies with the tell-tale sign of fermentation which had to be of the drinks many were chugging down. The music alone was nearly loud enough to deafen the curly haired, blonde, but she did her best to adjust herself to it.

When Floki showed her to a seat and left to get drinks, she shifted a bit uncomfortably at the lack of another’s presence. Though Floki was still nothing more than a friendly acquaintance, she had grown somewhat comfortable in his presence. Thankfully he hadn’t disappeared for long though and returned toting two mugs. The sheer size of the drinking vessels had Arista raising her brows in surprise. Grasping the mug with both of her hands, she raised it to Floki’s toast. She lowered the mug to her nose where she sniffed the contents.

Floki wasn’t kidding about the hair part.

Not wanting to seem unappreciative though, she took a swig of the odd alcohol and grimaced at the sharp, strong taste. In fact she barely stopped herself from coughing in reaction. She had not been at all prepared for that. “To new friends.” She agreed through her grimace as she noted that Floki had finished the entire mug in one go. Not wanting to seem prudish she took another swig, this time a bit better prepared for the onslaught of mead and managed to look completely disgusted by the taste.

“Oh. I come from Harmonia. It’s...well, yes. It’s much different. We are very peaceful people who do a lot of trading in textiles and beasts of burden. People come and visit but rarely ever venture out past the main city since it’s mostly smaller towns and forests. It’s beautiful though.” She said with a smile as she thought about her homeworld. “We don’t have an ocean like Mjolnir does. Instead we’ve a large, fresh lake. It’s big enough for boats, but not needing anything to the extent that you have and need here and we certainly don’t have ports and harbours. Though I have to admit, I enjoy the salty air that Mjolnir has. It’s very unique and pleasing.”

There was more she could have gone into, but really, Arista wasn’t sure how much she could actually say about her homeworld. Sure, there were some things that she could probably expand on, and others she could mention and carefully elude to. She just was being cautious in the strange world she had thrust herself into.

“You would be welcomed to come visit one day should the want or need ever arose. I can make sure you are well accommodated there at least. I find it only fair since you are being such a lovely, unexpected host here.”

“Anyway, tell me, what do you do with yourself here? Surely there’s more than drinking, enjoying taverns, and saving the stray alien in the harbour?” Without thinking she raised the large mug to her lips again to take a drink of its contents, nearly forgetting what it contained until the liquid hit her lips. She was proud of herself though. Each time it got a bit easier to drink.

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It might have been odd to an alien; but to Eir it made perfect sense that the Gods walked amongst men. After all who wanted to worship someone who was dead? Or had never lived as part of the world in the first place? Deities that could not bleed, that could not feel, that could not love or have an impact on the world from their heaven - they were not God’s that she would ever want to worship.

“It was not that old, the Jarl in question was my mother's husband. Her lover was a Castorian royal. The Castorians invaded Mjolnir with the Jarl at their head to dethrone a false ruler who stole The Iron Throne. They killed a lot of our people, there is bad blood there. Then again there is bad blood everywhere, even the four countries do not get along, one is always at war with another. It is… a hostile game that those with power play.” Eir went on to explain, Arista seemed to have kept her interest this long but she knew that the more she explained the more questions the girl would have. Especially because her own homeworld sounded very different from the place she found herself now. “I may be a King, I may be a God, but not even the Gods can saite the ambition of greedy men. People will always want more influence, more power, more wealth; it is in their nature. It is the way of the world.”

The brunette observed the excitement the girl admitted when they approached the tavern, a mischievous grin spreading across her lips at her words. This girl, she really was an innocent, wasn't she? Eir wondered how her people handled arguments, how their proved their worth as warriors. If such a thing even mattered to them. The King watched as the girl tasted the liquid and tried her best to adjust to its taste. Yea, she really was an innocent. And Eir was already thinking about how much fun it would be to lead her down the rabbit hole to corruption. “You keep saying that, is beauty important to you and your people? It is not really a word I hear often, especially not describing Mjolnir.” She asked, taking another mouthful of the mead, drinking a little slower this time.

“Nor do I find many who would invite a Mjolnirian to her shores, I hope you never see our banners coming to your land. For they will not be friendly. I do not know why your instructors brought you here, Arista of Harmonia, however I am guessing it would be to open your eyes to the ugliness in the world - not the beauty.” Arista seemed completely unaware of how unstable this place was and of the dark motivations that fueled its people ambitions. The king herself was the embodiment of Rage and though she may appear to be friendly, the girl knew that deep down she was as selfish and ambitious as any Jarl. Eir swirled the remaining liquid in her cup and then tilted her head at her companions question.

“I told you, I am a bard and a wanderer. It is my role, as a Deity, to bestow my blessing to those who I think deserve it. Lords who are mistreating their people, warriors who commit sin and terrorize their kin, being the hammer of justice down on those who have abused their power and caused harm to the people of Mjolnir.”

There was more, a mission that was hers and hers alone. Though with any luck Arista would never have to be exposed to the monster of Mjolnir, or the Guardian who kept them under control.

“How are you feeling?” The brunette asked, raising a eyebrow and noting the girl was diligently making her way through her drink, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

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A game of power, then. That was something new to Arista, but this planet was not the first one she had come across that had this issue. There were others out there. She couldn’t say that one world was worse than another in that department but it saddened her that people, even those living on the same planet, could have such hostility towards one another. When faced with this specific, inner-world conflict, Arista was happy that Harmonia managed to remain void of such problems. Sure, there were other planets and worlds that they may not get along with completely but at least peace held on her homeworld itself.

Taking another gulp of her mead, Arista found herself actually growing to like the flavor. It wasn’t as overpowering as her original taste had been. There was, of course, the possibility that the touch of numbness in her mouth attributed to her tastebuds approving of the flavor, but she didn’t much think on it. “I guess it is.” She smiled, pushing her golden curls out of the way so she could rest her head on an arm delicately propped on the table as she face Floki. “Like I said, a large portion of our trade is from the textiles we create and the reason the trade is so strong is because there is a strong focus on how the material looks and feels.” Her free hand fiddled with the rim of the mug that sat on the table near her. “Plus, we do take quite a bit of pride in how we present ourselves to others.” With a flick of a hand she gestured to her own clothing that she had meticulously picked out to wear.

“I had hoped that a Mjolnarian could visit Harmonia without having to beat the drums of war. Friendship is certainly a good reason to visit other planets.” She remarked casually. “But yes, I do hope that there is never any attempt at an invasion. My world doesn’t place much stock in warriors. We rely on allies for such things.” Arista wasn’t paying much attention to what she was saying at this point and was quite happy to delve a bit deeper into her homeworld and the mug of mead that was so easily at her fingertips.

Raising a brow she smiled. “Well I am pleased that the King of Gods found me worthy of attention. I am sure I’ve learned more from you about this world than my instructors could have ever told me. Try as they might, I know that much of their knowledge is...flawed. One sided, even. It’s lovely to hear about a homeworld from somebody who actually lives here.”

The next question didn’t even cause the young woman to falter and she giggled and leaned back. “I can’t say I’ve ever felt so...free before. This place, drink and your company is wonderful. Thank you for inviting me to take part, otherwise I fear I would have missed out on something as glorious as this.” Another giggle, indicating the swiftness the strong alcoholic drink was taking on the petite woman. Having never really been intoxicated before, the signs, usually clear to anyone else, was missed by her.

Reaching forward she grasped her mug to take another drink. “So, do you spend much time here on the…Goldshore, was it? Or does a God of your stature do more wandering than settling down?”

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Eir watched as the younger girl drew attention of her dress, pausing for thought and admiring her figure. Silver eyes ran up and down her body and Eir did not hide the fact. Eir herself believed that physical beauty was a very fragile thing; something that was destined to rot as the years passed. Beauty to Eir came in the form of words and actions, be it the story behind a battle scar or the achievements in one's life. Even when your body returned to ashes, even when your face was erased from memory, people could still feel fall in love with the stories you left behind.

The King herself cared very little about how she looked and she doubted many warriors did. You were destined to be beaten up, bloodied up and mutilated over the course of their lives. “Well you are very beautiful, Arista. By far the most beautiful creature in this port.” She finished her drink and placed her cup on the table, folding her arms to slouch against the wooden top.

“That is not our way, how can we expect to make friends and alliances off planet if we can not even get along with each other? The old Jarl of the Iron Mountains tried to create a lasting peace, all they got for the effort was three arrows in the heart and disdain.” Eir knew that Arista found all this very strange but it was the way the world worked, Mjolnir was in a state of flux, over the past few generations so much had changed that people were more on edge than ever before. Maybe once they did have alliances off world, maybe once the hostilities were not as they were, however at this very moment any hope peace or progress was overshadowed with fear.

People were frightened, that made them hostile.

“Did they tell you any stories of this place? Before you came here? I am curious to hear an outsider's view on our homeworld?” The brunette asked out of sheer curiosity, it did not matter much but since she rarely got a chance to speak to an outsider she thought she would take the opportunity. She still could not quite understand why the girl was here in the first place, I mean if she was just passing there were safer world in which to seek rest.

Eir laughed at her words. “You must be a very sheltered young woman to think this is freedom. Mjolnir is a world where one can indulge in every pleasure of life openly.” She stated with a small shrug, though admittedly Eir herself found herself less free than your average citizen. Unlike most she had a very strict set of rules to live by, but that was just the circumstance of her birth. That was another outcome of the fear that grew in the heart of her people. “Come and sit with me.” She pushed back her chair and patted her lap to invite Arista to sit on it.

“I actually hail from the Iron Mountains, there is a place there called The Forge and it is where I spend my time when I am not travelling. I am quite wealthy, maybe not as wealthy as what your people would consider it. However I have a well respected name, I have men pledged to me and a family. I have a few servants too, they live with me as do my guard.” It must have sounded more impressive than it was, the Forge was not a large castle, it was small and intimate and the surrounding was filled with modest homes for modest people.

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A blush spread across the young woman’s face at the outright compliment given. Sure, she often heard such words given her status on her planet, but it was different coming from someone who didn’t know her. It felt more genuine and real and not just pretty words said to her because she was who she was. “Thank you.” She said over the brim of her mug which she had lifted to sip from in an attempt to hide her flushing cheeks. Little did she know that the flush was a more permanent fixture courtesy of her drink.

Arrows to the heart? How horrible. The notion of killing someone for trying to create a harmonious pact was enough to make the blonde cringe. Was fighting and war really such a way of life on this planet? Surely the people could find some happiness without the need for violence? “Maybe making offworld alliances would be easier? There’s no direct competition or dominance like there may be here?” It was the only thing she could think of that made any sort of reasoning towards making offworld alliances. Being a diplomat in training as she was, Arista could appreciate the idea of making an alliance with Mjolnir though it bothered her that her thoughts traveled down that road. It made her feel as if she were betraying the friendship she was creating.

But, alliances needed to have benefits on both sides. Mjolnir would get trade and free access to the best diplomats Harmonia could offer while Harmonia got protection should war ever break out.

The mention of stories pulled Arista out of her thoughts. She had never been much of a storyteller to tell the truth. Her art was in the flute that lay tucked away safely with her advisors. “They were very vague when they told me we were coming here.” She admitted as her drink induced mind tried to bring up the few things she was told. By that point though, Eir had already moved on.

The invitation to move seats wasn’t even questioned by Arista. If anything, she assumed it was an invitation to continue retelling the stories she had heard about the planet. Storytelling was always a more intimate situation. So, scooting herself from the chair she had claimed, making sure to take her drink with her, Arista positioned herself carefully upon Eir’s lap. Her smaller frame made it an easy enough seat as she sat sideways, arm around Eir’s neck as a way to balance herself. The room was, oddly, spinning slowly from her quick movements.

“You hardly seem like the heartless beings that my advisors said you all were.” She started. “Nothing good ever came out of Mjolnir.” She continued on attempting to drop her voice to sound like her male advisors but failing miserably at sounding anything masculine. “You need to be careful, Arista and not go running off and causing trouble. Stay by our sides and we’ll keep you safe.” She giggled and shrugged slightly, taking another drink from her mug which was, at this point, getting near empty. She let her voice return to it’s normal timbre. “I am glad I didn’t listen to them. They always make things sound more grave or serious than they really are. I won’t ever learn anything useful if I take everything they say to heart. Experiencing things on my own is what’s important.”

As Eir began telling her own story, Arista listened carefully. Forcing herself to pay attention despite the fact that she was having a difficult time concentrating on one thing. There were so many sensations and sounds going on that her mind wanted to wander. Still, Eir was a fascination to her, and the more Arista learned the more intrigued she was. “It sounds lovely! Is it all terribly far from here? I’d love to visit at some point.” She said unabashed, her tongue now completely loose as she said whatever came to mind. “It certainly has to be more interesting than the palace I live in. Everything is so white, grand, and everyone there is nice and all, but it can all just feel so empty. Plus I hate having to watch everything I say or do all the time.” To anyone listening, they would think Arista a petulant, rich child who couldn’t appreciate what was gifted to her in life. But, Arista had gotten a taste of what freedom was like when she was a mere child, and since then, yearned for that freedom again.

Eir was giving that to her and Arista was drunk on more than just the drink.

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“But who would those other planets make alliances with? Whilst divided, whatever treaty made would be to one specific region of the asteroid, not the world as a whole. The world of one Jarl does not hold any meaning in the eyes of the others. The word of their King means little more to non-believers.” The brunette went on to explain, leaning back in her seat as the younger woman came over to rest on her lap. One hand slithered around Arista’s back before resting firmly on her waist. Eir leaned forward as she talked, pressing the girls smaller frame against her own. The woman’s blush had not gone unnoticed and the reaction from Arista was just encouraging Eir to push her luck further. She could feel the heat of her body warm her own and she rested her hand on the woman's thigh.

She shrugged at the woman's words, the bleak outlook on her people making her smirk. The Jarl’s voice became quieter, more intimate between the two as she addressed Arista’s comments. “I would prefer to think of us as a very passionate people, though I would agree that nothing good has ever come of our people, not in regards to the outside worlds at least.” The brunette leaned her face closer to the girl's neck. She noted that her hair smelled sweet, almost floral and it admittedly made her heart flutter. Eir herself smelt of ash, leather and now alcohol too. Arista was a strange woman, who held a beauty that was rarely seen on Mjolnir.

A laugh left her lips at the girls admission, though Eir was tied to her duties, she had never been confined and restricted in the way Arista was. As long as she ruled, as long as she upheld the duties of the King, she could spend her life how she pleased. Even if that meant posing as a man and seducing young women from foreign worlds. “I agree wholeheartedly and I can introduce you to many things I am sure you have never experienced before.” Eir blew down the girl's neck, giving her waist a gentle squeeze as she did so as if to demand her attention. She could tell the alcohol was going to the girl's head and did not want her thoughts to drift too astray.

“Further than you may think, if you make your way to the Jarl’s Hall that looks over the Goldshore, you will see the Iron Mountains in the far distance. It is about a two weeks ride, but I have made it here in just over a week if I do not stop and keep a good passe.” The mounts on Mjolnir were resilient beasts and some could run for days without stopping for rest. The kings mount, Bjorn, had notable endurance - The bear was never too far away from Eir at any given time. “Though if you really want to see it, I could simply kidnap you and give you back to your guardians when our fun is over.” Her tone was suggestive but she was being very serious in her suggestion.

The king ran her nose along the woman's jaw before nuzzling her neck.

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Brows furrowed as she tried to come up with an answer to the question. A foggy, slow mind made it nigh impossible for her to fully think through a proper response. Instead she opted to leaning into Eir’s close embrace and shrugged her free shoulder. “I don’t know. It’s sad that you all don’t get along though.” A hiccup escaped her at that moment and the girl went silent for a moment in her embarrassment as she ducked her head slightly.

The hand slipping to her thigh went completely unnoticed. Instead, Arista lifted her mug to swig down the last of her drink before settling the vessel on the table. “I don’t know. I think people would enjoy the drink you make.” She smiled, tilting her head unconsciously to allow Eir better access to her neck. Meanwhile, her gaze slid from her her companions to a nearby table where a game of chance was taking place. She didn’t know how long she sat staring at the group as each one placed their bets, and played their game, but a gentle breath upon her neck pulled her back to Eir.

“Hm, that’s further away than I hoped.” She murmured, her voice soft to match Eir’s more intimate tone. “I don’t much think my advisors would enjoy me being gone for so long.” She shifted carefully in Eir’s lap as she felt herself slide, ever so slightly. Here she was, the chance at freedom, though temporary it might be. With the alcohol in her system and her wish practically at her fingertips it was impossible for the young, naive woman to resist. Eir, right now, was a symbol of the life she wanted to live and that symbol was practically gifting her the thing she had always craved.

Heat rushed inside of Arista’s body as Eir’s advances became more intimate. The gentle caress along her jaw, and Eir nuzzling her neck caused Arista’s breath to hitch as a rush ran through her. A soft, exhale of air escaped her lips as she tilted her head down and toward Eir. The other woman’s strong masculine scent filled Arista’s senses. It was odd to her, as the men on her planet were usually as perfumed as the women, but Arista found herself highly intoxicated by the unfamiliar aroma that was strongly Eir.

Unlike Eir though, Arista’s ventures into intimacy was...well...non-existent. With how closely watched she was, the poor woman was lucky if she got close enough to anyone to form any sort of attachment beyond friendship. Sure, small crushes has occurred over the years, but nothing that ever blossomed into anything more. What she was feeling for Eir in her drunken state was similar to those childish crushes. This young man, whose lap she had happily perched upon, was something completely different and Arista found herself drawn explicitly to him.

Needless to say, Arista was falling and not fighting it one bit.

To hell with consequences.

“I don’t really care what they think or say.” Arista confessed.Blue eyes blinked owlishly at Floki at his explanation of the Gods and how they walked among men in flesh and bone. It was a very odd notion and, to tell the truth, something that the young woman couldn’t quite wrap her brain around. Sure, it was an easy enough concept, but to think that beings that people worshipped, or had worshipped, walked and lived among them was odd. What made them different then from the rest of the people who inhabited the world? Yes, it was a very odd concept, but with the look in Floki’s eyes as he spoke about it, Arista knew not to even attempt to try and counter his thinking. She’d accept it as thus and just quietly question it as she continued to observe everything. “A king in name only.” She muttered under her breath more to herself than to Floki.

She walked contently, arm entwined with Floki’s, as the young man led the way through the harbour. Curious glances were sent their way and Arista noted that not all of them were at her but her male companion. It was intriguing, and she began to wonder if maybe this had to do with his story about the Gods and how he housed the King of Gods within him. Did people know this? Was he well known? Did they just sense something in him? Or were they merely just curious of him due to his slender, more feminine, appearance. When compared to the other men she had seen on this world, he certainly didn’t fit the mold.

“Hm. That sounds like a terribly old alliance that, like you’ve assumed, probably perished with the lovers. Alliances can be incredibly fickle things.” She shrugged lightly. “Though you may be surprised. Maybe one day that alliance will rekindle itself for one reason or another. Or, perhaps, it never fully went away. People sometimes have strong notions of honor and feel the need to uphold such things.”

Alliances were what Arista was being trained in making. It wasn’t an easy thing. She knew there would be times she’d create one on very rocky terrain, or just fail completely. But, it was what her world did. They worked as mediators between worlds or countries on worlds to help create peace. One day she’d be out on her own, taking up her own duties, and as much as she wished to offer advice, she knew that she wasn’t ready. Not to tackle something like this. Besides, she hadn’t been asked here for that. She was here merely to observe and learn. To grow and understand how the universe worked.

Thankfully the somber tone of the conversation was quickly elevated at the mention of taverns. Arista would have been quite upset with herself if the conversation hadn’t turned around at Floki had decided to part ways with her. “Well I am excited to see this then!” She offered up a smile, a slightly spring appearing in her step as she realized they were nearing a place of topic courtesy of the overflowing music. “I’d rather not see any fighting but, well, I will take it as the nature of the establishment. Maybe I’ll learn a few things while I am here. I certainly can’t walk away knowing any less.” She giggled happily, almost girlish in nature, marking the fact that the young woman was still just barely out of the throws of childhood.

As they entered the ship, Arista’s senses were almost overloaded. There was so much to see as men and women alike drank, talked (or yelled in some instances), while she could smell the stench of bodies with the tell-tale sign of fermentation which had to be of the drinks many were chugging down. The music alone was nearly loud enough to deafen the curly haired, blonde, but she did her best to adjust herself to it.

When Floki showed her to a seat and left to get drinks, she shifted a bit uncomfortably at the lack of another’s presence. Though Floki was still nothing more than a friendly acquaintance, she had grown somewhat comfortable in his presence. Thankfully he hadn’t disappeared for long though and returned toting two mugs. The sheer size of the drinking vessels had Arista raising her brows in surprise. Grasping the mug with both of her hands, she raised it to Floki’s toast. She lowered the mug to her nose where she sniffed the contents.

Floki wasn’t kidding about the hair part.

Not wanting to seem unappreciative though, she took a swig of the odd alcohol and grimaced at the sharp, strong taste. In fact she barely stopped herself from coughing in reaction. She had not been at all prepared for that. “To new friends.” She agreed through her grimace as she noted that Floki had finished the entire mug in one go. Not wanting to seem prudish she took another swig, this time a bit better prepared for the onslaught of mead and managed to look completely disgusted by the taste.

“Oh. I come from Harmonia. It’s...well, yes. It’s much different. We are very peaceful people who do a lot of trading in textiles and beasts of burden. People come and visit but rarely ever venture out past the main city since it’s mostly smaller towns and forests. It’s beautiful though.” She said with a smile as she thought about her homeworld. “We don’t have an ocean like Mjolnir does. Instead we’ve a large, fresh lake. It’s big enough for boats, but not needing anything to the extent that you have and need here and we certainly don’t have ports and harbours. Though I have to admit, I enjoy the salty air that Mjolnir has. It’s very unique and pleasing.”

There was more she could have gone into, but really, Arista wasn’t sure how much she could actually say about her homeworld. Sure, there were some things that she could probably expand on, and others she could mention and carefully elude to. She just was being cautious in the strange world she had thrust herself into.

“You would be welcomed to come visit one day should the want or need ever arose. I can make sure you are well accommodated there at least. I find it only fair since you are being such a lovely, unexpected host here.”

“Anyway, tell me, what do you do with yourself here? Surely there’s more than drinking, enjoying taverns, and saving the stray alien in the harbour?” Without thinking she raised the large mug to her lips again to take a drink of its contents, nearly forgetting what it contained until the liquid hit her lips. She was proud of herself though. Each time it got a bit easier to drink.

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(tbc - bellow)

Ofelia had slept for what felt like a lifetime when she finally woke up in Kam’s apartment; her memory of that fateful night was hazy and it had taken her a while to settle after regaining consciousness. It was in her nature to be very distrusting towards people and even though the large man had helped her, she was still very weary around him. There had not been much talking and she avoided eye contact the best she could, often pretending to be asleep so he did not try and strike a conversation. She did not know what to make of him and until she could would rather observe him from a distance.

She had been saved again, the mused the fact, wondering if she would ever be able to stand on her own two feet. She played the damsel very well for somebody so proud, the fact irked her somewhat.

Ofelia had been here in the apartment for three days now and was just beginning to relax a little, she had taken a shower and borrowed some of Kam’s clothes to wear whilst hers were in the wash. They were miles too wide for her but the length was not too far off. Now they had settled down properly for something to eat, which Ofelia could not help but welcome - All in all Kam had been too good to her, like people before him had been too good to her.

She took a slice of pizza from the box and her eyes drifted over to the television, she had never really gotten the chance to get invested in shows before but over the past couple of days she had really found an interest in Game of Thrones, she was about three series behind everyone else and Kam had the worst poker face when something was about to go down, but it was interesting.

She brought the warm coffee to her mouth to wash down the slice and then looked over towards Kam, tilting her head to the side curiously. “You said the second time that you were chasing something?” It was a question that might have seemed out of the blue, but Ofelia tended to pick up on these things and chase them like a loose thread, a fact she was sure drove people mad. She had been curious for a while now and suddenly she decided it was the right time to speak out about said curiosity.

She liked to understand people, she liked to learn what made them who they were, it was just how she was.

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It was hard to tell if Ophelia had agreed to stay with him or if she were simply too weak and drained to go anywhere else. No matter the reasoning, Kam had done his best to make sure that she was comfortable and that he wasn’t the worst roommate on the face of the Earth. Random drop-bys were kind of unavoidable but he had at least warned her that he had several friends that liked to make their presence known. For the most part, though, it had been an easy co-existence so far. She had even started joining him for a Game of Thrones binge.

“Hm?”

Kam’s eyes swung slowly away from the screen and the extended dialogue some side character was delivering (he honestly was the worst with names in this show), trying to put together the words that he had heard but not completely downloaded. He finished chewing the too-big bite of pizza and swallowed before he put two and two together.

“Oh..”

Probably for the first time since Ophelia had started staying with him, his overall positive demeanor slipped just a fraction. It wasn’t that he was ashamed, exactly, of his past but it was hard to explain the beginning of something wrapped up in layers of secrets.

“My brother went missing, it’s.. complicated. I spent a long time looking for him.”

The phrasing suggested he wasn’t looking anymore, but it didn’t hint to whether or not he’d found him. By the solemn set of his face and the way his eyes stared down at nothing, it was a better bet to say the story hadn’t gotten a happy ending. Realizing that dwelling often led to the defeatist thoughts, he brought his gaze back up to Game of Thrones and a battle that was pretty on par for blood and gore in his experience. Watching this show made life seem a little more normal.

“I had to stop. It’s not healthy to obsess over things, I had to learn the hard way.”

The words were delivered with a shrug and finalized with another bite of pizza.

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“Yea, I guess you're right about that. I am sorry.” A wave of shame came over the girl, shame at her obvious lack of empathy. She moved uncomfortably where she sat as her gaze drifted away from Kam, knowing then that she should not have asked. She could not relate to his struggled nor did she want to pretend that she could, fearing that her attempts at condolences would come off as disingenuous.

She sighed and found her golden eyes raising to stare at the ceiling, looking at anything but Kam himself. If she could not offer him comfort, she decided to at least try and offer him the same vulnerability he had exposed to her. “In a strange kind of way I know what that is like. Though, I was the one missing. The one that was lost - When I came back.” She paused for a moment and then ran her fingers through her bangs. No, she was not good at this kind of thing at all.

“I always wanted to run away. It seems so stupid now.” She shrugged.

She decided to move the conversation on. He must have thought she was chatting nonsensical babble, she did not even know who she was anymore, never mind trying to make sense of recent events. She had long given up on understanding. “Are you expecting company tonight? Or is it just me and you? I just want to take a shower is all - I know your girls like to use the bathroom when they come over. I do not want to be in the way.” She placed the half eaten slice of pizza in the corner of the box and placed her hands on her knees.

Ofelia did not eat much, the last few days had proved that much. “They are all really pretty, your friends.” Though that was all she could really say, since she made herself scarce whenever someone came over she had not got a chance to talk to any of them yet. Ofelia smiled and shrugged her shoulders, trying at least to have him smiling back. She was such a tool.


There was silence as she spoke and filled the silence between them with words. Though his eyes remained on the screen, he was listening, hearing the words she was offering in the name of peace. It didn’t surprise him that she was as troubled as she was - as he was. He had felt the kindred spirit in her the moment he had saved her from that gang of street thugs and he had found peace with himself, just a little, in being able to give her a roof to protect her from them.

“I understand that, too,” he offered with no explanation, without pulling his eyes from the screen. Though he was calm, he was glad when the subject changed, too. He wasn’t so great at feelings.

“It’s your house, Ofie.” The crust of his pizza dangled between his fingertips as he spoke around a mouthful of pizza, watching the faces flashing across the television set. His gaze went sidelong to Ofie as he finished his train of thought. “Just tell Sana to go do her damn eyeliner in my bedroom, she’ll respect you if you tell her to just get the hell out of your way.” Then there was a pause, and a smirk. “Though I guess she might just tell you she doesn’t care if you strip down.”

But he had noticed the way she put her pizza down. Was she smiling because she thought he only wanted her to? Or was she actually okay? Well, honestly, he did doubt that she was okay. For a moment he considered pausing the television set so they could talk but figured, in the end, it might make her more uncomfortable if he tried to really and truly talk. Instead, his eyes drifted back to the TV, though now he was barely doing more than listening to the words like background noise.

“Do they bother you? I, um,” for a moment, Kam wished he’d not thrown out every bottle of beer that had been filling his fridge to bursting. He dropped the half-eaten crust onto the paper plate he had been balancing on the couch arm and grabbed his cup, taking a long sip of water to wash it down. When he finally had a mouth free of food, he finished the thought he’d begun.

“I have a lot of anger and ******** is a better way to channel it than fighting.” A deep, personal admission. He gave her a nervous laugh and a small shrug of his broad shoulders.

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Ofie looked over him as he spoke.

A smile spread across her face as he explained his actions, a small chuckle followed and then before she knew it she was laughing. Laughing so hard she was shaking. Her face went red as her hands came up to cover it, a half hearted attempt to escape his gaze. It was near the funniest thing she had ever heard someone say with such a serious expression. Ofie could not remember the last time she had laughed so hard, or so genuinely.

When tears started to form in her eyes and began to breathe deeply in hopes of calming herself, clearing her throat and trying her best to move on the conversation before he got mad. Though he did sound fun when he was mad. She fanned herself and looked away, trying to dry her eyes. “No. No, it does not bother me at all. I just do not want to be a bother or interrupt your… therapy, in any way.” She shook her head and almost started to chuckle again, but controlled herself.

She brought her knees to her chest, hugging them close and side eyeing the large man that sat at her side.

“My house, huh? I guess that makes me the alpha female.” She thought for a moment, knowing very well that she would never confront Sana about bathroom usage. Ofie was, by nature, a very non confrontational creature who liked to avoid conflict when necessary. She had anger issues of her own. Being the Senshi of Berserkers meant she had seen red and she knew what it was like to let your rage control you.

Because of that she had chose to live as peacefully as possible. Her and Mjolnir were still two very different entities in her eyes. It was a lie she told herself. How she fooled herself into thinking she was good and not rotten to her bones.

“You have a very kind soul Kam, please just continue to go about your days like I am not here. Being here is still very strange to me, but at the same time I had forgotten how nice it is to be surrounded by people.”

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“If that’s really what you want, I’m not gonna say otherwise.”

It was good to see her laugh so fully and even as he felt her retreating into passiveness, there was a true smile stretched wide across his lips. He was an angry brute at the best of times and a sulking a*****e at the worst of them - Sana had been sure to point that out to him and even now, after he’d begun to sober up and get his s**t together, things between them still weren’t quite right.

“You’d be the alpha female if you tried. I’m pretty sure she gets off on people checking her attitude.”

Well, not pretty sure - definitely sure. Wicked images of Sana rose to his mind and he had to look away, staring intently at the television. He was thankful, not for the first time in his life, that it was almost impossible to see the faint flush of his skin. There was a part of him that just wanted his new roommate to begin feeling comfortable in his presence and in his home but he knew that need was more deeply connected to his own shortcomings than hers. Yes, her life would be better if she relaxed into what he was offering her - shelter, consideration, protection - but he would feel better about himself if he could just help someone that needed him.

That was something he had to stop forcing on people too.

“I am not really sure if my soul is kind, Ofie,” he shrugged again before he leaned back into the couch cushions again and flung one long arm along the sofa behind her. It was a relaxed position, non-threatening. “But as long as you need my help, I’m here. I’ve done a lot of ******** up things and ******** up a lot of good things. I think I owe it to the universe to give more than I take right now.”

The weight of his words settled on his shoulders and he smiled, weakly, at the wisdom he felt inside his own head. He hadn’t really earned it, but it had been given to him without consent anyway.

“Karma’s a b***h and all.”

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“Yea. To be fair, I probably get off it too.” She shook her head. Alpha female or not, Ofelia very well knew she needed to be called out on her bullshit every so often. Luckily enough, she had recently been surrounded by the kind of people who would do just that; and who did not get offended when she did the same. The brunette had never really had a type - but there was no doubt that a pattern was beginning to emerge in her recent partners. Her romances tended to be by fireworks, fast and passionate and destined to end quickly. Maybe it was that inevitable end that made her open up and feel comfortable?

Ofie thought about his words for a moment, his mention of Karma. She thought about the situation Kam might be in and the events that might have occurred to make him think he owed the Cosmos some positive energy.

The whole idea was rather strange to her, after all Ofelia was sure she deserved to be alone, but someone always turned up to look out for her. Kam was living proof of the mercy that had been shown to her again and again. “I said you were kind, that does not necessarily mean you are happy. Nor does it mean that you are incapable of wrong. We always start with good intentions but lose ourselves along the way. I am pretty sure that is what it means to be human, flawed.” Cruelty was often inflicted under the veil of kindness, suffering was inflicted on others because it was for their own good. The philosophy behind it all made her head spin and it was questions like these that plagued her near constantly. Ofelia, and by extension Mjolnir, were both creatures of chaos.

Still, Kam was good. She knew that much, even if he had misdirected that energy in his past.

“But wanting to repent for past mistakes is admirable. Just admitting that it is a task too great for most.” Too much for her. She knew she had done wrong, she knew she continued to do wrong, but did not know how to stop. Stopping meant she would be alone again and currently the fear of isolation outweighed the fear of eternal condemnation. Nevertheless she smiled and looked over towards Kam, his blush going unnoticed. They were still too new in their relationship to know when his mind wandered to such things.

His arm stretched across the back of the sofa and despite her urge to recoil further to the other side of the couch she remained still. “Is that why you are angry? Because Karma is punishing you?” Despite Kam’s smiles, despite the fact he always seemed so upbeat, she did not doubt he was carrying rage. It often bubbled below the surface until it had nowhere else to go, she understood that. In many ways her sphere was the embodiment of that; the uncontrollable release of rage that exploded when a person was pushed beyond their breaking point. She leaned back against the couch as eyes raising to look at the ceiling, the back of her head touching his arm gently.

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“Am I angry?” He laughed through the three simple words as he tossed a sidelong look at his bizarre new roommate. If she’d called him desperate or tired, he might have understood, but he didn’t think many people in his civilian life really knew the depth of his anger. It lay just under his breast, coiled and waiting for Gehenna’s magic to set it free. Was Ofie wise enough to see it, even now? The laugh died off in an easy, raspy chuckle.

She was too right, he thought. His wisdom had been earned through visions of Rayyan and Eir and Tanais but they could not teach him to let go of his pain or forget those he had wronged as he sought to avenge it. Isaiah, Orah, even Delphine..

Odd as it was, Ofie was one of the only people in his life that he didn’t feel like he owed reparations to - and she was also the only one allowing him to help, even if she barely was at all.

“I don’t know if Karma is punishing me, I only know that I would not be surprised if it were.” The television buzzed dully behind their conversation and Kam felt himself growing quieter, contemplative as Ofie’s slight probing settled over him. Sometimes she felt like a therapist that asked him questions he had no answers for but suddenly, with her redirection, felt he should find. The arm behind her on the couch flexed uneasily with the conversation but, at the gentle touch of her head, he buried the fingers into the back of the cushions there to prevent himself from curling them into a fist. Before Gehenna, he used every emotion as an excuse to fight - and now even that had been taken. There was no solace in a bloodied fist anymore and Ofie deserved a peaceful roommate, one capable of being close to someone without expecting anything, one that simply wanted to help the flighty dove back to her feet.

“I don’t need to be admirable, I just need to be a good person, but thank you for trying to make me feel better about it. I’m supposed to be the one helping you, y’know.” A pause, and then. “We’ll get through it, Ofie.”

There was something final in the way he spoke the words and then settled back into the couch with his eyes glued to the TV. He didn’t need to fill the silence to entertain her - he knew she found solace in it and he found comfort in that notion. That weak smile remained despite all that she was making him consider because at the end of the day, there was an easy peace between them, no matter what was or wasn’t being said.