He had finally found the door when suddenly Finita spotted him. Swallowing it kind of hurt a little when she dragged him out of the room and down the hall a bit, to another room where they could talk. Removing his hand from her grip, when she let go, he sighed rubbing his wrist.
"I-I..I'm afraid of snakes..." he said shyly. "When I was a child, I was bitten by a poisonous snake and almost died..s-so it's kind of hard..with seeing Helena the way she is." he replies looking away.
"To be honest, this is still...really hard for me." Turning from Finita he looked down in shame. "Scientific-wise this is an amazing and stunning miracle! I mean magical beings coming back into exhistance! This project has been an amazing success! My mind is accepting this fact..but my heart....I miss the old Finita. It's strange seeing you this way. I miss the cute short little woman who was always begging me to reach her reports for her. The woman that would always get so annoyed when anyone picked on her shyness...or her height."
Letting out another sigh he couldn't bring himself to look at her. "It's funny how it takes a transformation to realize how much you take things for granted. I always kind of pictured you taller than you were, I just liked teasing you because we're friends. This is all just way too much for my heart to bear, I know these women have chosen their fate. I know, much like yourself, that they're comfortable in their own skin..because their transformations are what they were supposed to be." placing his hands in his coat pockets he glances back to her.
"I'm sorry Fin. Don't worry I'll finish the project, you know I'll never abandon it, but I always worry about the women that go through these transformations. What if something goes wrong and one of them ends up malformed badly or dies? What if you all go feral and suddenly burst into a rampage. I know you don't understand...and I don't want to be a party pooper. This just all feels so..surreal though." He hoped she wouldn't be too mad with him, though it did feel a little better opening up like this to her.
"You know that I trust you, and you know that I'm willing to dive head first into whatever projects you want to tackle. That's why I pull all nighters sometimes. You're my friend, I want to see you happy. This project...still seems so odd to me. I hope you don't hate me now, I just couldn't hold this in anymore. You're not a ugly beast or anything, so don't misinterpret what I'm saying. It's been three days, so this all will..just take a bit of time to get used to."
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 1:19 am
Stardust Drifter
Finita sat and listened carefully.
Well... I can't hep you about your snake phobia... But I need you listening along as well, Ratchet. You, and now Alex, I am trusting to help me with this Project. I need you to keep a cool head. I need you to listen and help absorb these stories... they are about as important to the Project as the rituals.
When he commented on old Finita she snorted and shook her head.
You miss the old me? You miss when I was tiny and cowardly? She asked. I'm sorry Ratchet, but yes, I am happier this way. I hated what I was back then. I hated my tiny size and I hated my weakness. And I hated being picked on too... you should know that. Even back then I hated what a tiny creature I was. This feels far more natural. You may miss the old Finita, but honestly? Good riddance.
When he spoke of his worry her expression softened.
And that is why I value so highly as my assistant, Ratchet. You care... but we can't stop now. This project is far more important then anyone realizes... Maybe even more then I realize, and I'm the head scientist! I'm sorry to say, but we can't stop the project until someone gets hurt or dies from the rituals... Simple murder, like what happened to Celeste, can't stop it. Can't even slow it down.
She sighed. I hoped I didn't have to tell anyone this Ratchet... but I trust you. The Lab has many benefactors, or donators. It's how we keep running. Have you noticed that it was only recently that we've gotten so much money to play around with? We used to be so tightly budgeted lunch came out of our own pockets. Do you remember that? Well, our biggest benefactor got very... interested in the book I was trying to decipher... very interested. She pulled on her horn. When I felt I hadn't translated enough, they started making demands... Unless I come up with results for these rituals in one month, they're going to shut this place down. Completely. Totally. The only word I got in edgewise was if someone got hurt due to these, I would stop immediately. That's all they gave me. If we don't do all nine rituals and start studying the results soon, we're all out on the street, Ratchet. And our names will be so badly branded from the resulting lawsuit that we will never work in the scientific field... or any field... ever again. The scientists that live here would have no time to move their things or find a new place. The scientists who live elsewhere would have no income. And the ones supporting families... She shuddered. If I succeed I gain the right to own the whole complex and unlimited funds for all the projects run in this lab. All of them. It was going ahead with a possibly faulty translation or homelessness. And no one has gotten badly malformed, badly hurt, or have died yet due to these rituals. If one of them dies within the next few days, yes, we can stop... but until then we have to keep doing this... whether it makes us uncomfortable or not. I understand your concerns... and I appreciate your worries for our well-being and safety. I am happy to have your loyalty and dedication... but I need you at your best... and you need to have the will not to flee from Helena. I have a strong feeling you need to hear these stories just as much as everyone else does... but for what reason I cannot say.
"Of course I miss the old you." he said turning around and staring her in the eyes. "I see her every time I gaze into those eyes of yours. You may be who you're supposed to be now, but there will always be a part of you that will always be that small, and shy woman. There is always a part of us that will remain Human no matter what happens. I'm glad you're happier now though, you're a lot more fun to be around when you're happier. I'll get used to your true form...just give me time." he sighed.
She always had her business face on even when they were alone talking to one another this way. It annoyed him a little, he knew his place and his responsibilities, but right now he didn't want to be told he had to cope or anything, he just wanted her to listen. When her expression melted from serious to one of a natural, well natural for a Minotaur woman, gentle softness he was kind of surprised. She was a bit more gruff now that she was a big and bold Minotaur, so he was kind of glad that she still...had that soft heart.
"I know we can't stop, that's why I'm fighting myself to continue. I know this is important...but it's still hard. I never even believed magic exhisted, and now suddenly I feel like I'm being pulled into a D & D game!" he chuckled lightly then grew worried when she explained everything.
Ratchet wasn't surprised, Finita was always being hassled. Hearing her speak that everyone could lose their jobs, and possibly never find another one he grew concerned. Ratchet had no clue the stakes were that high, usually she told him everything. Could it be that...even though she was big and powerful now..that she was still a little scared? Walking closer he gave his big Minotaur friend a comforting hug.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know how high the stakes were. Fin...you should have told me." he softly stated gently rubbing her mane some. "I will do my best to be brave for you and hold on until this project is done and you've danced and pleased for whomever is supporting this project. As your friend though, you and I should have a drink or something after this is all done. Maybe round everyone up and take a private vacation, to let everyone relax and let go of this stress." pulling away he gently touched one of her horns.
"You can count on me. In honesty, I'm not surprised of what you've become though. Fin, you always had a hard head about you. I don't think anyone will mess with you ever again though, unless they want to be punted." he lightly teased smiling softly. "As strange as this sounds, I feel like I need to be there to hear these stories as well. I can't explain why though...even now my soul is nagging me to go back to the room despite the snake woman. It's rather odd.." he said moving back a little so she could stand up.
"Thanks for listening, I needed to let that out. The stress was killing me." Ratchet states softly.
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 10:52 am
She looked at Ratchet and sighed. I hate that... that's it's true... She shook her head. I was always so scared as a human...
I always wanted to believe magic was real... I had no proof, I had no reason, but I've always loved fantasy and romance. She said. And now... now it's all coming to life in-front of my very eyes. Beings come to life that were once believed to never exist... are proven to be long dead. She had a sparkle in her eyes. What else has been lost? Spells? Could we learn them? Well, someone learn it? How does it work? What is it's rules?
When Ratchet came up and hugged her, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back gently, though she nearly lifted him off of his feet in doing so.
And thanks Ratchet... I'd like that. A drink does sound good right about now... And I'm glad I could count on you. Thank you...
He lightly blushed seeing the sparkle in her eyes, that was one of the things that made Finita so adorable at times. When she was human, she looked like a little girl super excited and impatiently ready to open her presents on her birthday. Ratchet had always had a hidden crush for her, but never wanted to ever think about pulling the cards of love and putting them on the table. Now that Silvia was in his life, it was clear that maybe Finita and Ratchet were never meant to be after all.
"I think you have magical powers. You already posses an incredible amount of strength Fin. I wouldn't doubt that you and the other women have hidden magical abilities locked away. You just changed, so maybe it's just taking them a while to surface." he smiled oddly feeling like a doll when she pulled him off a ground into their little hug.
"To be honest, I was kind of always the same way too. As a child I believed in magic, that's why I was always exploring and was bitten. When I got older, that belief kind of died when I realized magic was impossible. But here I am being hugged by a Minotaur." he laughed lightly. "We'll have that drink later, maybe we could even play a game of cards or something, like we used to? I think we're both tied, or maybe you won last time we played. I can't remember."
Once they would learn more about the races from Silvia then that's when he would spend a little time with Finita. It had been a while since they talked and hung out. He would have to go out and fetch something and share the drink in the lab, but it didn't matter. Gently poking her snout he gave her a wink. "I will always be here for you Fin. You gave me a second chance, and believed in me when no one else did. From day one of this project, to however many days this all takes, I'll be here." he softly smiled staring into her eyes.
Then a thought hit him. "Finita...do you think it's a good idea leaving the tome with Silivia?" he asked all of a sudden worried. "That woman could die if we're not careful! I'm sorry, I might have just caused something terrible to happen!"
There would be plenty of time to talk later, for now they had to return and make sure the Kitsune was alright!
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 3:25 pm
Stardust Drifter
Fallen Akari-chan
Lady Aryana of the Seelie
Meyaira Firespring
Me? Hidden magical abilities? Ha! The Minotauress laughed. I'm so stupidly strong-- that would just be so very unfair. Though he could tell she liked the idea of it though... the sparkle had not faded. It's possible... the book did say something about the Minos king who could manipulate metal. But it also said that they were otherwise incapable of magic. But we can only wait and see.
She snorted and laughed at his mention of her hugging him. She set him down on his feet with a smile. I would like that... I think I won, but the tally doesn't matter much. And what can I say...? I guess I'm a good judge of character. I certainly haven't regretted hiring you on, that's for sure!
Then her eyes widened as he mentioned Silvia and the tome.
You're right! Alex is too inexperienced to know when to get her to stop. She turned away and started heading back to the Observation room...
~~~
I was resting my hands on the book. I ran my fingers over the fox emblem-- it seemed warm and alive under my fingers. It pulsed gently, like it was wanting me to open u pit's pages for me to read. This book is mine... if only they would let me have it... I thought.
I glanced up at the other girls, Oliliva, Helena, and Estelle. While we're waiting for Ratchet and Finita, I suppose I should get started with the Recap. This book... it is not just a book of rituals. It is a story, a historical document. Written in a divine language that only I apparently can read fully, it describes not only the physical capabilities and abilities of each race but... how each of them went extinct.
The first race it describes is the Kistune... it doesn't detail much-- only that they died in a massive fire that consumed their homeland, The Misty Forest of Bamboo. They were all unable to snuff it, and it in turn snuffed them. The next race is the Minotaurs, like Finita. They were living on an isle on the Mediterranean before a tidal wave hit and washed them all away... with freezing cold water. The last part I read was of the sirens... who's entire underwater city was overwhelmed by a massive Red Tide. I said. In the wake of these disasters, the Traveler who describes these events is the only one to survive... and she usually notices the presence of magic in them. It is... suspected that these races were being hunted for some reason. And I have no doubt that what befell your peoples too was similar in nature.
Estelle watched Helena's snake hair dancing it seemed, writihing and looking around. The dwarf knew that she made of stone itself would feel nothing wrong with feeling the young woman's hair. When Helena had finished with her phone call, she had taken a few steps closer to her having to now look up.
"Um lass, would ye mind if I took a closer look at them snakes? they seem friendly..." The dwarf asked her looking sheepish.
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 6:51 pm
((OOC: This is a lot for me to catch up on and I'm going to leave today to the airport at 2:30pm. So, I'll try to get a post done today but if not, I'll be back Friday to catch up then cat_3nodding I recharged my internet credit so I can get online now too.))
Fallen Akari-chan
Quote:
Okami Ameras
Stardust Drifter
Being greeted by the Dwarf as she exited the meditation room, she smiled at her from behind her new sunglasses. "Of course, I don't mind if you take a closer look, but it looks like we are being summoned. Best not to dilly dally and keep them waiting. I've held them up long enough" she replied, consenting to allow Estelle to look at her snakes more closely once they were all sat around the table.
Helena slid across the floor as easily as though it were ice and took up a space next to Silvia with another friendly smile. She leaned against the table as her body and tail were curled into coils beneath her.
She was beginning to feel a little sleepy and peckish now that she had completed her transformation but she was eager to hear what was in that book.
Looking around at the other transformed women, she was glad to feel a spark of kinship with them. They were now all part of a very special group and Helena smiled at each one from behind the dark glasses that hid her slotted gold eyes.
Feeling a few drops of water splash on her skin, Helena looked up to see Cecelia leaning on the side of her tank. Idly, she wondered what the woman’s living quarters were like, being a creature that had to live in the ocean. Hmm, she would have to pay visits to them all so she could see their rooms. Her hand reached up and gently pushed her snakes back down into her hair – the curious little things were outright staring at people, tasting all the different scents that marked each person as unique.
When Silvia began to speak, she turned her attention straight to that book and listened. She was so enraptured, in fact, that she didn't notice Finita getting up from the table.
Yet, as she listened, her smile faded and her snakes began to curl back closer to her head anxiously. Her tail switched to and fro on the glossy tiles, making no sound as it showed her slight agitation. Helena gulped and frowned. This wasn't exactly the sort of thing she had been hoping for. In fact, she now found herself bracing for the things she was going to hear, both curious and dreading at the same time.
"That all sounds horrible" she murmured sadly. "What a waste of life. I have a feeling this history is going to be more depressing than anticipated"
Still, now they knew how the mythical creatures disappeared from this world and she was curious more than ever. She leaned across the table a little, wanting to know more. "Please, read on...I want..." she faltered for a second before taking a breath and continuing, "...want to know, what happened to the otherssss, ss!" Helena covered her mouth as she heard a hissing sound. Whoops, there was that lisp again! Soft hisses accompanied her slip-up from on high and she frowned and tried to silence them, pulling them down closer to her hair. "Shh, you're embarrasssing me!"
Olivia frowned a bit, sitting on the table she stared up at the Kitsune when she spoke. So whatever was in this book was sad? That didn't sound fun at all! Olivia hated sad things, even when she was a Human! That's why she worked in a flower shop, to bring joy to people.
The world is so sad and those stories were side. Her eyes misty she stared up at Silvia as she listened. Would her race...have the same kind of fate? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow so this book reveals tragic things that happened to all the races in the room? Interesting, yet..who would do such a terrible thing to such wonderful people?" he asked with interest and curiosity. Alex loved learning about new things, and despite this book containing tragedies, it was all very interesting to learn about these races and their cultures.
History always repeated itself. After all these races were returning right? Alex was the only Human in the room at the moment. He kind of felt a bit...rare suddenly. Boy that was an odd feeling.
Ratchet had followed in after Finita. Taking a seat next to Silvia it seemed that she hadn't run off with the book yet. That was a relief, but with the sad faces around the room, no doubt she was giving everyone a recap to catch them up on events. He still found it terrible himself, and was glad he wasn't in the room when she retold everyone what had happened to the Minotaurs, Sirens, and Kitsune!
(OOC: I thought the Minotaur were killed by a volcano? Unless I miss interpreted something. ^^; )
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:34 pm
Stardust Drifter
Fallen Akari-chan
Lady Aryana of the Seelie
Meyaira Firespring
Finita strode in and settled down at the end of the table, sitting on the floor in the lotus position.
Cecelia was listening, sorrow in her eyes as she swished her tail back and forth.
TheGorgons.
As I started to read, my voice immediately started to shift into that silky smooth sounding voice of Re Sthart!
I walked for a long time. Trekking through desserts, wandering through plainss, trekking over mountains and through jungless. I wandered, not any location in mind... just... wandering.
I paused in my wandering when I came acrosss this secluded Jungle valley on the edge of the Himalayass. It was a pocketed passs of a large jungle that was closse enough to the main jungles of India that they were still hot and steamy.
I was running low on rationss when I came across this place... I figured I sshould do some hunting... at least until I ssaw the figure among the treess.
He was a tall creature that towered over my ssmall frame, with the lower half of a ssnake, long striped hair, pale white sskin, hair, and sscales as well a** pale golden patterns running through it all, a** well as four matching snakess in his hair. He wass a Gorgon.
He greeted me with... hostility. Apparently humans had been attacking the gorgons recently, and as I looked mosstly human he didn't trusst me.
Thankfully, he didn't sstone me right off the bat, sso he instead esscorted me back towards his city. It was a masssive jungle city, carved out of sstone with a masssive temple palace at the center.
Bringing me to the temple top is where I was greeted by the Gorgon Queen. She bore tanned sskin, gold and black sstriped sscaless and hair, as well as four king cobrass sticking out of her hair. Upon her head was a golden crystal lotuss in the center of a gold crown. The white one was still hosstile, but the Queen allowed me to explain my circumstancess and what had happened thuss far.
I could see that my story was sswaying her to act as I recommended... but alass, the white one, who from their interaction I believed to be her sson, upon his advice she decided to not do sso. She wass, however, kind enough to put me in a small home on the edge of her village. There I learned more about thesse Gorgons and their people. They were alchemisstss, able to brew anything with plantss, from healing potions to alcohols that would make a dwarf proud. I also watched them sstone many hostile creatures, ssuch as tigerss that threatened them, and I found they were able to turn them into variouss different types of sstone. The children could turn sscary thingss that frightened them into common sstone like sshale or granite... while I once observed the Queen turn a captured Rino into ssolid diamond!
I was weaving a ssilk gift for ssomeone when I ssmelled the sstrong pressence of magic outside. There was a sspell going on outside, I know it... but I couldn't go out there.
When it was ssafe I peered out the door. What I found a sseemingly empty street... but upon nearly sstepping on an unusually sharp rock I looked down. I found my self staring at a frightened, stoned and fractured face. Sstepping outside in shock, I saw... the Queen fighting off with someone on the steps of her palace temple. Below them was the remainss of that white Gorgon, who appeared to have died fighting, with his sspear in hand.
Glancing up, I saw that the Queen was the last one sstanding. Sshe was locked in a gaze with her human looking opponent, her ssnakess hissing and sspitting. The man sslams his staff into the ground and sswingss it, before a grey light forms from the tip and launches at her. She looked tired, apparently having been weaving and dodging it a while, but this time the ball of light hit true, and sshe wass turned to sstone in an insstant.
I sstared, before the figure turned. He sseemed to be an old man, wearing larger versions of a judge's glasssess, the dark quartz frames which apparently was what sshielded his eyess from the harmful gaze of the Gorgonss. But he seemed old... and tough, like an old grizzled sailor that never gave up ssailing. He was big with thick armss, wearing long robess... and a thick, long grey beard. And sstrangest of all, though he sseemed to be sstanding in direct ssunlight, he sseemed to be constantly bathed in deep sshadow.
For a moment my eyess met with hiss through his dark glasssess. He wass the one ressponsible for all thiss.
She was staring off into the distance, considerably more subdued at hearing this morbid recount of what became of the gorgons. She'd been shocked to hear Re Sthart's voice emanating from Silvia but she didn't wish to interrupt, staying spellbound on every word.
Looking at her own gold and black snakes while the tale unraveled, she stroked them gently as they rubbed their smooth, scaly bodies against her, seeking comfort. She had one arm wrapped around herself to ward against the chill that had settled both outside and now, inside of her as well.
Hearing Alex's comment, she wondered about the same thing. "It could be that horrible old man in the end of the tale who was the mastermind behind those attacks" Helena suggested once Silvia finished speaking. "Maybe a necromancer would do something like this. But for what reason?"
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:05 am
Something stirred within Ratchet as he heard Silvia speak once more. He didn't like it when she read like that, not only were the contents of the journal sad, but he didn't like hearing it.
Though he was as deep into this project as could be, so he couldn't get out of it. Looking over at the people, Olivia seemed sad, but didn't seem to understand. Maybe fairies weren't capable of understanding a lot, outside of flowers and nature.
Of course now whoever was attacking these people had a face. Some old man was attacking them..but why? That seemed odd, but this all bothered Ratchet some. He didn't know why though. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that was a bummer. Were all the stories in this book sad like that? Of course being turned to stone didn't sound fun either. These Gorgons seemed like cautious people who just turned to stone anyone before they could speak. Wild and vicious creatures were different, and even though Alex thought it all to be so fascinating being turned to stone didn't.
"Wow, being turned to stone must suck." he said with a slight shudder, "I would hate that honestly. Their tale is kind of bittersweet though. These Gorgon weren't the friendliest people as some of the other races you mentioned earlier. Not all usually are, but having the power to turn people to stone must be annoying too." he said scratching his head.
Looking at Helena for a moment he smiled and rubbed her back a little. "You going to be alright? Even the snakes that share your body seem kind of sad." he said with care and concern. She was actually a pretty snake woman, whoever her fiance was Alex couldn't help but be a little jealous. Of course, her fiance was going to be in the surprise of his life when his fiance came home a Gorgon. This business was all so very strange. Some old man was fighting them, and from the little bit Silvia had given them about the races, it seemed this old man wanted them dead.
Why? That was the major question here. Just one look around the room and it was plastered all over everyone's faces. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Olivia didn't understand, but whatever was going on was so sad. Once it was all said and done the fairy flew over to Helena and began to cry hugging her arm as she did so. "I'm sowwie Hellie!!" she said cutely crying. "Are you going to be alright?"
TheFay. I continued... this time Olivia would recognize the voice of the handsome white haired fairy that greeted her in her ritual.
After fleeing from the madman wizard, I wandered again. Over mountains, across deserts, seas, and plains, through forests and straits. I found myself on a chilly Northern isle one day, walking through the forest... when I stumbled upon a fairy ring. It was a great ring of mushrooms, and within danced a multitude of fay. At a distance they looked like little glowing orbs of colored light, and upon closer inspection they were little people with dragonfly like wings dancing together.
As they danced I watched the forest start to change. It was the season of fall, and I watched as the leaves slowly start to fall off the trees and cover the ground, leaving the trees bare save for the evergreens. Once the trees had taken on their skeletal appearance, dark clouds started to form overhead and snow started to fall.
As I watched all this they noticed me. They took me by my clothes and dragged me into the ring, despite my protests... and once inside I found myself starting to dance. I danced, and danced, all my worries fading away. I found myself in a strange and magical dimension, where black was white and orange was blue, and I was suddenly taken by a sudden child-like giddyness. I danced and played with the little fay, as they lead me through their home to their palace, which was a great palace of ice. There, the Queen and King of Fay danced with their subjects, and it took all I had to attempt to warn them of the fate that had befallen all of the other peoples I had yet encountered. They were too busy playing to listen to me... they offered me food, which I politely rejected...
It seemed naught like five minutes when I heard familiar screams. The playful, joyous atmosphere crushed, I turned to look to see a familiar figure clad all in cold iron armor, cutting swaths through the fey with a cold iron sword. The fay screamed and fled, others tried to fight back, but they all fell. The King and Queen themselves attacked the figure, The king making storms and the queen making tidal waves of biblical proportions, But his armor was too good. In the end they fell to the Mad Wizard's cold iron blade.
I was inching away from the scene and he spotted me again.
I fled from the realm of Faery, the madman hot on my tail.
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:57 pm
((OOC: Whoops, I was working on my post at the same time as Okami. Just pretend this one is above that one. Lol))
She now understood why she was wearing the sunglasses after hearing the tale of the Gorgons but hearing Alex's comment did irk her slightly. She wasn't about to turn people to stone willy-nilly. And especially not without a strong provocation. In fact, she didn't even know how to activate her ability yet. The last thing she wanted was for everyone to be suspicious of her and avoid her because they were scared. She didn't do 'alone' very well.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to start making statues out of people at random" Helena said softly, a light smile gracing her lips, the tips of fangs barely visible at the corners. "It sounded to me like the gorgons in that book had been using their ability for defense, not outright attacking people. So that means they were able to control it. I'll keep my sunglasses on at all times, just to be sure" she promised, adjusting the lenses on her nose. She was shivering slightly in the air conditioned building and the cold that came from the tiles she rested upon. She was beginning to feel a little sleepy and her mind was slightly fuzzy. Overwhelmed with the events and questions it now held, and because her tropical snakey self was telling her to go to sleep and conserve energy to stay warm. Her snakes had grown rather slow and were curled in closely, some of them appearing to be dozing lightly.
Nodding at the pat on her back, she chuckled softly, and smiled at Alex, touched by the young one's polite concern. It was nice to see this boy had some manners. "Oh, yes, of course I'll be all right! Don't you worry about me. It's just a lot to take in all in one day. A little rest and some time to mull all this over and I'll be right as rain. You can't expect anyone to be happy listening to this. There'd be something wrong if I was!" she said, trying to keep things positive. Feeling depressed wasn't usually like her, but when the gorgons had died in that story, something had stabbed into her soul...perhaps the other stories wouldn't affect her so much.
Hisses sounded in her thoughts again, adding their two cents, a number of them suggesting things to distract Helena from the ache that seemed to have lodged in her heart. "Ssadnesss" "Sssleeep, make painss go away" "Food sss, ssso comforting and tassty" "Ssss!" With the last one, an image of that sunbathed rock filled her mind. That brought her a sense of peace. Enough to shrug off the hollow feeling.
Just then, something small and sparkling streaked across the room and attached itself to her arm. With a gasp, she almost went to brush it off but then noticed the wings and the blue hair.
Helena laughed softly, her mood lifting a bit more. These people were trying to be her friends, she realised, and was grateful for their efforts to reach out.
"No, no, I'll be fine. I was just a little...shocked, I think. No one is going to feel happy hearing such woeful tales! At least in hearing it we have gleaned useful information. We must focus on what we need from the story and...and try not to think about the rest" here, her eyes darted towards Silvia, still unnerved by that other familiar voice that had channelled through her during the reading. "Here, take this" A soft rip was heard as she plucked a clean tissue from her bag and tore a corner off, making it small enough for the fairy to use.
"Dry those tears, we have more secrets to uncover in this book and you won't be able to hear them if you are crying so hard" she shushed, just in time for Silvia to begin reading the Fairy's tale.
A young girl of obvious native American features wearing a nice brown cardigan sweater with her hair in a neat braid wearing comfortable beige slacks came walking up to the main entrance of the facility with all of her job hunting paper work and credentials. Her face was a still pool of calm and her eyes sparkled with intelligence and depths of wisdom beyond her years. she opened the doors and walked in with an air of calm confidence.
