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[adamantlyardent]

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[forgeabettertomorrow]

"Recent events?"

What recent events?

[adamantlyardent]

Well... [she clicks her tongue, looking down while she scrapes some dirt over the ashes.] I spent a week or so tied up in some loser's basement while he and his friends worked very hard to convince me they were nice people before being dragged out to some obnoxious gathering with the expectation that I'd have some precious, elf secret to reveal...

[she turns around, looking past him with a grim expression.]

Somewhere along the way, I came to terms with the notion that nobody would've even noticed I was gone, and that hoping anyone would find me was childish. Harder to do than I thought, really.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

You were WHAT?!

[adamantlyardent]

[she shrugs, walking past him back into the house.]

My fault for not just setting them on fire at the onset.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Cece...

[He follows.]

You didn't do that because you're better than that...

But...

[There's a whirlwind of questions spinning in his head.]

You...must have been scared...

[adamantlyardent]

I guess so! [a hollow laugh in her breath. she bends to pick up her slippers.] Guess so. Having my magic cut off was rough. That was scary.

[moving over to the trash to toss them:] I think I was more frustrated than scared, though.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Your magic was sealed too...?

Gee, what the hell did I miss.

[adamantlyardent]

[she looks over her shoulder with a scowl.]

What do you mean by that? You mean you're not already caught up with whatever matters? I mean, considering you were so casually just snacking around...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

I literally pulled into port a few hours ago and when I did, reports over the radio came in about a robot attack in Nonah!

I haven't had my comm for close to two months now, so I couldn't get in touch with anyone to find out what was going on, so I rushed to the Porter and headed to Nonah to find out for myself.

I only just got back from that!

[adamantlyardent]

[her ear twitches. she starts back into the living room.]

...I mean, that tracks.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[He follows, as is the norm.]

...So no, I haven't been caught up. And I didn't keep in contact because some jerk imPort stowed away on my ship and destroyed my comm.

I know it doesn't make things better or take away the frustration and fear but...

[He trails off.]

[adamantlyardent]

[she flops onto the sofa, drawing her knees up while huddling into the corner the back and arm makes.]

Yeah, well...I'm still resentful for no reason. Probably because I'm still a brat.

[she busies herself fussing with her hair even while her eyes well up.]

Kinda thought that, like. I dunno. You'd show up. Do some more...nonsense book-hero stuff. Make me feel silly for worrying or something.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[Darin makes his way around the edge of the sofa and eases himself onto it next to her.]

...If I'd known, I would have. And I'm sorry I didn't.

There's nothing wrong with feeling resentful for it. I'd rather bear those feelings on my shoulders than have you bottle them up and hurt yourself more.

It's just another lesson I need to learn; to be a little less trusting of strangers.

[adamantlyardent]

[while scrubbing at her eye:] Well, like! Others came. Came and helped find me...and I should just be grateful to them instead, you know? And like I am, but...

[forgeabettertomorrow]

... ... ...

[Darin slides off the sofa so he can kneel in front of her.]

You don't have to say anymore.

[He places a gentle hand atop her head.]

I'm not gonna go anywhere again. No more journeys of self-discovery. I got what I needed and now I'm back where I'm needed.

[adamantlyardent]

[after a sniff, she lets her hand slip away from her face.]

Y-yeah, well...I'll be the judge of that, I guess.

[there's not a lot of ire in that, try though she might.

after a beat.]

...Sorry for throwing...things at you.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Hey, I deserved it.

Besides, even I'm aware that it's impossible to stay mad at me for long~

[adamantlyardent]

[with a pinched expression:] Don't test me.

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Come on now~!

I bet I turn that pout into a smile...

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small assortment of coins. Loose change, really. A pulse and crackle of blue magical energy courses through his fist as he clenches it briefly, then opens his palm to show a small metal rose blossom with a butterfly on it.]

How's that?

[adamantlyardent]

Wh-?!

[she sits upright, startled.]

Wait, what? Excuse me? [she catches her impulse to reach out and grab it just shy of touching it, retracting with a grimace.]

Hang on, this is what you were talking about, right? When you were asking me about...inherent magic and stuff a while back?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah! I never showed it to you? Because I was able to do other stuff, but never anything this detailed, this quickly.

[Nevermind the glowing lavendar marks under his eyes that are fading away as they speak.]

[adamantlyardent]

[not minded at all; her eyes are on the trinket.]

Yeah, no, you were...just feeling it out, weren't you? Is this part of what you were off sorting out? With your inner-whatever?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

Yeah.

I wanted to learn how to become more in control of myself. Of my abilities. This way I wouldn't run the risk of...well, of hurting anyone. As much as I hated not being able to see or talk to you guys, turns out the isolation helped in a way.

With no one left to talk to...I tried meditating. Talking to Diomuhr.

[adamantlyardent]

[peering up, warily:] ...And?

[forgeabettertomorrow]

...And I think I finally feel comfortable with what I am.

Enough to actually embrace my abilities rather than let my fear of them govern how little I use them.