Welcome to Gaia! ::

(1/7)

Padma sighed and, not for the first time in the past day, lightly touched her fingertip to one of crystals that dotted her face, grimacing. The changes were painless; in some ways, she thought if they hurt or tingled she might feel a bit better about the shift. But she couldn't put aside her unhappiness regarding the changes. It was so silly - she knew it was skin deep, that it was a cosmetic change and, in her case, not even a horrifyingly massive one. Her poor little boy had molted into a completely new looking person overnight, but Padma was a bit darker, her crystals more red - nothing more.

... And yet, she felt repulsed by the changes all the same. There was something so off putting about waking up to a new face; something heartbreaking in still feeling shock everytime she looked at Valerian and didn't see the little boy she'd raised. He was still himself, with the same intelligent eyes and sweet face, but that first glance always startled her.

In her case, she couldn't fight the feeling that she'd left herself out in the sun too long, and should be in pain from burns, not... normal. And the crystals - the color felt sickly to her, and reminded her of her mottled face as a teen. Unseemly and blighted.

Padma heaved a sigh and forcefully wrapped her hand mirror in a hand cloth, stowing it in her chest of drawers. There was no sense in looking at her reflection like a preening diva. "You're being such a child about this." She scolded to herself viciously.

(2/10)

She should have noticed someone entering the home sooner, honestly. The treehouse was sturdy, built by her husband's skillful hands, but it still creaked and moaned if hit by the right amount of wind, and most times you could easily hear someone coming up the stairs. But Padma was far too focused on her dilemma, and so instead of noticing her husband's confusion she drew in a deep, steadying breath and spun towards the door -

Only to yelp and stumble back into the chest noisily, a hand clasped to her startled heart! "Uzumati!" She breathed, giving herself a shake to bring herself back to her senses.

... Ah. Tactless - because now she was staring almost guiltily up at her taller partner, shifting a little as she smoothed her hands against her dress to wipe away nervous, sweaty palms. "O-oh! Are those for me? They're beautiful! Welcome home!" Padma tremulously smiled but reached to try and take them, unable to meet Uzumati's eyes.

Why was she being so foolish about this?!