Welcome to Gaia! ::

The plan had been to meet her sister here at the festival, especially since music was definitely more her thing. But unfortunately work had got in the way and the person scheduled to relieve Breanna from her shift had slept through their alarm and was running late. The last update was forty-five minutes ago letting her know that the co-worker hit some ugly traffic and to just go enjoy the fair until she arrived.

Easier said than done but Fiona definitely did her best to enjoy herself in the meantime. Since powering up for the first time, crowds, unfortunately, made her uneasy but not without good reason. It was at the masquerade with Fionan, her boyfriend at the time, that things started to go awry and senshi were kidnapped. It was a harrowing experience and one she had difficulty getting over even until this day.

Time has passed since that day and she had, with help, learned to relax a bit and not be so paranoid.

Today, however, was a day to have a good time. And so, she wandered around the different booths, intent on finding something to eat, when a crowd of people dancing to some rather energetic music caught her eye. It was almost hypnotic to watch from afar and without realizing it she had wondered closer simply to observe.

Before she realized it, she too began to move and sway with the beat, and allowed herself for once to lose herself to the rhythm as she often did while on the ice.

The beat of the music was loud enough that it felt as if her heartbeat in tandem with the melody playing. Others attending the festival bumped into her carelessly, and yet for some reason, she couldn’t find it in herself to care. Instead, Fiona simply went with the flow, ebbing and weaving through the masses. That was until she finally looked up and noticed the familiar face of one she used to date.

For the briefest of moments their gazes met, both equally surprised by this random happenstance moment that brought them together in one of the most unlikely of places. Her mouth opened as if she was going to speak but with how loud the music and crowd, she was sure whatever she said would not be heard.

When the music began to slow as it reached the end of the current song, the look of shock faded into one of both sadness and guilt. It was stupid of her to not have trusted him, something Briana had scolded her on several occasions. But there really was no turning back time to fix that mistake. Instead, the only option she had left was to move forward and perhaps this might be her one chance to make amends.

The sound of his voice was as she remembered; calm, gentle and with kind intent. He had always been thoughtful and considerate which is why it hurt so much to lie to him; to keep from him the secret of what she was.

Yet for some reason, perhaps it was the earnest look in his eyes or the way he reached a hand out to her, it seemed he wasn’t quite willing or ready to let go yet. It was both a terrifying yet hopeful notion to consider. They had been high school sweethearts and she had, in turn, hurt him in ways she couldn’t really understand. Fionan had every right to turn his back and walk away, but that just wasn’t in his nature; he was far too kind to do such a thing.

However, before she could reply, a larger man nearly a whole head taller than she, stumbled into the crowd as the next piece of music start playing. Perhaps he was drunk or someone had caught him mid-step and accidentally tripped him. Either way, the jarring sensation of nearly being knocked over by him was enough to cause her to retreat back several steps.

When she finally got her bearings together and looked up again, Fionan was gone. Lost amongst the bobbing and waving of men, women, and children simply having a good time.

There was a deeply saddened look on her face. Her eyes cast downward she placed a hand above her heavy heart. “I’m sorry… I can’t… not yet...” she spoke softly, knowing he was nowhere near to hear her apology.