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The brunette gave her a smile in thanks as he took the mushroom after dropping the gross looking yellow one he'd picked, but didn't wait for her to take a bite. The initial texture made him want to gag, but oddly enough it sort of melted in his mouth and tasted like...chocolate. It was a confusing mix of weirded out and pleased that was on his face, which changed to something much calmer and relaxed as a more recent memory surfaced.

Memory

They were settled quietly in front of a laptop screen, running through a number of scary movies because he basically demanded that she see some with him after finding out that she'd never seen any before. So there they were, her nestled protectively under his arm and him basically completely amused by her reactions to all the jump-scare portions of the movies they'd seen so far, including the one they were currently going through.

There really was no conversation going because of the movie but he was very clearly smiling, in part because of amusement, but also in part because of other potentially more obvious reasons depending on who was watching...

Rhys blinked quite a number of times at that, wondering if the mushroom had caused something like an acid trip or a hallucination, but sure enough the memory was in a misty cloud-like form for all to see. He was confused enough that he sort of froze and, rather than try to get rid of it--assuming of course it worked like regular smoke did and disappeared with a bit of waving--he sort of just watched.

"The ********?" he started to say, cheeks gradually turning a faint shade of pink.

Seren turned to look at Rhys' memory, and her eyes widened, then her face broke into a gentle smile as she watched that bit from their first movie night together happened. The first night they'd ever slept in the same space, the first time he had held her protectively... The night she had caught him cuddling into her pillow when he fell asleep while she had gone to get some water. All sorts of small, happy things were connected to that memory for her, too, but knowing he had been that happy that night was probably one of the best things that could happen to her. Maybe neither of them had figured out that they were in love yet, but it was an excellent night, and a wonderful memory.

She considered the situation for a moment, and while Joy was caught up in her own memory, Seren leaned over and snuck in a kiss on Rhys' pink cheek, whispering "I love you too, babe." before straightening back up and looking over to Joy now.

Seren watched young Joy and her friends, a small, happy smile, with maybe a hint of jealousy in it, on her face. This was another good memory, and she liked the way Joy and her friends gathered to watch their television show together. She did not understand what was going on in the show, maybe, but she definitely recognized the way the friends were clearly having fun together, and then when they played the episode out after? That made her laugh aloud, her eyes glittering in her amusement. She managed to keep any other signs of how jealous she was of the fun young Joy had out of it, past that initial bit that showed in her smile, at least. Joy did not need her happy memory spoiled by the fact that Seren had had a really horrible childhood, and never got to experience any of these sorts of things while she was growing up.

Seren lifted her brows at the teasing, and laughed at Joy. "Not so recent, that was before you and I had our evening in at my room, chatting and drinking! But still a good memory." Her eyes drifted back to her own memory, watching baby Dai say her name, repeatedly, and her expression changed a little to one of both sadness and happiness. She missed her brother, she missed him so very much. She hoped to all the high powers out there that she would never see him again, and yet she desperately wanted to see him again, give him one last hug, and tell him she loved him and she was sorry she couldn't be there for him anymore.

She would never do anything like that, however, between the contract she signed and the fact that it would probably hurt Dai even more then she was sure he already was. But being forced to see this, and remember that moment, one of the happiest in her childhood, hurt her inside, for the moment.

The mushroom's initial effects kept Joy in that state of happiness but only for a short period. The image of Seren's younger brother as an infant saying Seren's name brought up a memory of her own, one thankfully that did not play out before the others. Wonderland would always have mirrors, always have twisted representations of things, and being a hunter was a stark reminder that she would never ever be able to experience the joy of motherhood. That she could pretend to play housewife all she wanted but her womb was nothing more than a FEAR-riddled waste of an organ.

It was something she tried not to think about during her lonelier times on Deus. And she had even managed to convince herself that she was being completely stupid for even feeling regret. After all, it wasn't as if she had anyone to share that longing with, did she? No, of course not. No one on the island could ever, would ever want her that way. Bert had seen it fit for him to constantly remind her of her situation.

Seeing Rhys' memory reply again and again only carved an ache in her chest. And she hated herself for feeling anything but pure delight in the fruition of her Love Team. She should be capable of taking pleasure in the joy of others and living vicariously through other people's relationships, shouldn't she?

She should. But she couldn't. And she wouldn't. Not according to Bert at least.

The teasing from the Mist hunter was a welcomed distraction, "Ha! What little girl wouldn't want a white horse to call their own? I mean, as long as it's not like the White Castle rum commercials of a woman in a red bikini. Though I would rock a two-piece," she laughed, the mirth sounding just a little bit forced there.

"Dai's a real cutie," Joy said, genuinely softening, "I, I hope you get to see him again. Even if it's from afar."

"Not exactly what I meant," he went on with the jab, happy to bypass whatever loneliness he thought he might have seen flicker in her expression or heard something of a forced laugh. He wasn't the sort that wanted other people to acknowledge that kind of thing in him, either, so he held himself to the same expectation. It was limiting, maybe, in terms of building a relationship with someone that went beyond being just acquaintances, but it was what he was used to and comfortable with. If Seren hadn't pressed him when they were in Siberia, she likely wouldn't be the only exception to this unspoken rule of his.

"Also I dunno if I should comment on if you can rock a two-piece or not." And he gestured very obviously to Seren, a stupid little smile on his face.

When Seren let his hand go and hugged Joy he felt a bit of relief go through him, thankful that she'd seen it as well and, unlike him, was able to actually do something about it. He slipped his hands into his pockets and nodded at the comment about Dai. "You're a helluva stunner, not hard to believe your brother would turn out the same. As for checkin' up on him..."

He gave it a bit of thought before shrugging. "Bit tricky, but doable from afar if you really wanted to. Am always here to help if you need me." A pause, and then he added, "Goes for you, too, Joy."

Seren tilted her head, listening to them both, and then gave each of them a squeeze on the hands, trying to tell them both she loved them, even if it was in very different ways. She was glad they were here, and supporting her, and if she could do anything to support THEM, she would. She knew, for one thing, she was going to be thinking about Joy, and her desire for love, every time she met a new hunter, especially if they were single.

Seren wasn't much for matchmaking, but Joy was somebody who deserved love, real and honest love, and Seren would do everything in her power to help her with that. She just hoped there WAS something she could do.

She blinks at Joy's words, though, and nodded. "Yeah, no, I wouldn't ask him to get up close and personal. That would be too risky for words." She sighed softly, and gave him a bright smile, though. "Maybe... next time we take leave, I can search him on the internet, and see where he is, and we can decide from there?" It seemed like a logical first step... After all, for all she knew, her family had moved, or something, in the time since she was asleep. She doubted it, but there was always the chance, so it was better to be safe then sorry on that issue.

She then nodded. "All right... Let's move." She turned to face the ongoing path, and moved towards it, trusting her two closest people to come with her.

The Winding Forest

"I wouldn't know how much has changed but it's been a couple of years. There was a fork in the road and that nonsense sign that was super helpful," she said with utmost sarcasm, "But as long as we don't need to fight off snapdragons or some s**t like that, we should be good."

Which naturally meant that as soon as the words were out of her mouth, they were going to encounter something terrible and weird and Wonderland-y. Ugh, she should have just kept her mouth shut, but what could you do? And the further they went, the worse their environment became.

"Let's just stick close to each other, keep an eye out, at worst we run."

xAria Starstone

x_ p a o cx

If Seren hadn't taken his hand first, he certainly would have reached for hers after Joy's explanation of a less than pleasant environment. It actually sounded hostile...but then they were in Deus; even their own island-for-a-home was hostile to them, so that shouldn't have been a big deal. But it was now, to him, a big enough deal because he had someone he wanted to keep safe...

"Well s**t..." was about all he commented on the details Joy was able to give them from memory. "Let's keep movin' then, and not getting separated is always a good plan in my book so good with that idea, too."

He didn't really have any curiosities of his own, though when Seren asked about these Snapdragons he listened carefully.

"Oh that does sound irritating. I'm just glad they are not here, then. I bet they would have been cute, if they were not assaulting you, though." She could not help thinking that tiny little dragons would be utterly adorable, if they were not dangerous. She did like the small and cute things in life, and wished kitties could be a thing on the island. She looked over at Rhys, and gave him a slight smile, love in her eyes as she did so. She refocused on the path forwards after that and wished she could take a turn at the front. She was a Sun... Sun were the front line, in her eyes, the ones who were supposed to be there to hit, and hit hard, at any enemy that came at them.

When they came around the bend and there was a giant ******** Caterpillar of I Could Stomp You in Five Seconds Flat doom ahead of them, she stopped and then even stepped back, bumping into Rhys a little. That was the biggest damn insect she had ever seen in her life, and she was not happy about seeing it now. When it spoke, she stared at it, and frowned at the question it presented to them.

She watched Joy searching for an escape route, her lips curving into a frown as she pondered. It seemed pretty clear to her, at this point, they had to answer the god damn giant bug's question or they were not going to be allowed to leave. But who was she? Her name was not who she was, and her gender was just a chance of fate. Who was she? What was she, in the sense of what this giant insect wanted? Did she even know what it wanted? She found herself leaning against Rhys, taking warmth and love from her boyfriend, and using it as a way to comfort herself. This was a part of who she was. Who else was she, though? There were so many things to consider when it came to a good answer. She took a moment, while Joy was hunting and her back was turned, to lean and give Rhys a cheek kiss, and then smiled, having finally settled on her words.

She stepped forwards, not letting go of Rhys' hand but being close enough to the Caterpillar that it focused on her, and repeated the question. She smiled and said, softly, "I am a woman who loves, and is loved. I am a soul seeking the path to happiness for myself, and all the people I love. I am someone with a sad past, but a bright future, and freedom the worst of the sadness I have felt, thanks to the kindest man I have ever met. I am myself, and I am free."

She blinks in surprise as she is handed a piece of mushroom, and told that it if she eats it, it will make her larger in this world. She blinks, and stores it away for later, should she need it to reach something high up.