Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hvergelmir had had a good run of luck in the past week -- she was grateful for that. She hadn't spent all her time sitting on her bench by herself, pretending to read the Destiny City Times and boredly doing the Cryptogram; a good part of the time, she'd had company. And the company hadn't tried to kill her. That was good. That was definitely good.

And this time, she'd bought pizza -- spinach white with alfredo sauce -- and it was delicious, even if she'd run through absolutely every napkin in the course of eating it. And now -- now she could sense an energy signature nearby, something pretty powerful! Kind of like Zee, or like Ate, it was a big, radiant energy that seemed to leak everywhere -- but this one had a very friendly, familiar feel to it -- not quite the same as Zee's, which felt positive but unusual, or Ate's, which felt kind of like how watching creepypasta videos online made you feel.

Hvergelmir straightened a little, giving a quick check to make sure she was presentable and didn't have a lapful of flour and crumbs. Then she waited to see if the aura would keep coming closer or continue on its way. In the meantime, she went back to an article about improved Canadian railroad car standards and the problems it was causing for America, and how Big Oil didn't want to do anything about it. (It was funny how far away those concerns seemed these days. These were things she cared about, but -- she hadn't thought about them in weeks. She supposed she'd forgotten that life went on outside Destiny City and the world had other problems that needed to be dealt with, too.)

She hoped the bright aura would come closer. Otherwise, Hvergelmir would have to go back to just sitting here, pretending to read the newspaper and worrying incessantly about how Tara was missing. Hvergelmir desperately wanted to do anything but be alone with her thoughts.

What appeared in Hvergelmir's line of sight, zipping speedily from shadow to shadow, was a small, cute cat. Another Mauvian! That was exciting.

And this one had such lovely manners, too. 'My lady,' he called her! Like she was a peer of the realm! It was too flattering, really; she was enchanted at once.

"Oh, good sir," she answered with equal politeness, "How lovely to meet you. Your company is most welcome, and I'll be glad for the conversation -- though the aura suppression's up to you. I'm not normally in need of it; usually I'm looking to be found. But please -- come, sit with me."

She reached out to pat a space on the bench beside her. "Hvergelmir Page of the Cosmos," she introduced herself. "Might I ask the gallant gentleman's name in return?"