[Center][h1][color=8882be]"Phi"[/color][/h1][/center]
[hr]
It occurred to Phi that she had no idea exactly what race Amy was. She hadn't planned to pry or research the matter, instead feeling it was fine to just accept that small ignorance. More and more it seemed to her like what someone was couldn't hold a proverbial candle to who they were. However, Amy looked a little uncomfortable or disappointed maybe when talking about her race, which now made Phi a little curious. But she held the question in check. Reputations were funny things as even if completely inaccurate they all too often defined someone or at least colored the observer's otherwise unbiased opinion. Amy was Amy, so far as Phi could tell, and she rather liked it like that.

Truly, what other of her race could be Amy? None other. Everyone was generally unique in their own way but Amy especially was becoming something special in her eyes. With each moment, word, and gesture down to the light twitches of her ears she was proving rare among rarities. At least this is what Phi thought she saw and what she wanted to see. She wanted to believe she could still trust a few people in this universe.

[Color=8882be]"No. It's almost impossible to imagine you as a reclusive hermit."[/color] She agreed, joining her in the light-hearted laughter. She watched and smiled while Amy danced with the little seal, and wove her inspirational words together. No, it wasn't just a speech for Phi's benefit, Amy was opening up in response to her own apparent transparency. Granted Phi had still been hiding things and felt guilty under the shining light of Amy's honesty.

[I][Right]Unless she's actually-[/right]

No. No, I think I could tell by now if she wasn't really as she appears.

[Right]Oh yes, wise, grown up Phi is surely infallible.[/right][/i]

The swirling undercurrent in her heart shifted, attracted to brief thoughts of doubt that she pushed away like always. Now wasn't the time, not when someone was pouring their own heart into trying to help just her. How long had it been since she could feel like this? Almost hopeful. Doubts or not she didn't want to do anything but bask in that warm sense of caring.

Though a little perplexed, she didn't resist the handoff of her handiwork back to her own hands. The bright eyed figure before her had more to say yet, and in Phi's experience most questions would be answered if she waited and listened. So she squeezed the imperfect but pleasantly soft stuffed seal in her lap, watching and listening. It brought a small sense of comfort she hadn't realized she needed. Indeed while the things said and the passion behind the words were beautiful and lifted her heart, a nagging familiarity with the experience tickled the back of her mind. Noticing it now she felt the emotion had a distinct flavor that was out of place, something she couldn't help but wonder at. 

[I]This.. it feels, what's the word?[/i]

A soft, almost loving touch on her cheek and the mention of family brought the image of a gentle, feminine face to her mind. It was not a face she could ever forget but it had been a long time since Phi had seen her own mother. With this image she knew at once the word she was searching for and her heart felt like it clenched painfully.

[I]Bittersweet.[/i]

She clutched the seal more aggressively and almost bit her lip at her distressing inner landscape. But it seemed Amy's presence alone triggered her usual defenses, keeping visible signs of her troubles minimized. It was not even a conscious decision at this point though she knew she would probably go on hiding things given the choice. She had to wonder when her love of theatrics had been corrupted into a dependence on deception.

A man's face with cool blue eyes came to mind, a face that conveyed confidence and intelligence. A face that made that dark undercurrent swell and her teeth grit at the complex, conflicting feelings that followed. Fear was perhaps the strongest and most easily recognized but of what exactly remained unclear to an observer like Amy.

Whatever it was, that tangle of thorns was shattered by the precious image Amy created. Shocked by the sudden display of what was in Amy's heart, the driving force behind her words, Phi had no room left to be plagued by her own dark thoughts. The light from that scene forced the slowly awakening dragon back into slumber, becoming only a faint murmur once more. Eyes wide, Phi's hand had moved automatically to cover her open mouth. She was far from ignorant of illusions and how they worked, but she was utterly unprepared for such a surprise, or the way it was used in this moment. 

Feeling the warmth of Amy's touch, Phi looked deeply into her eyes, taking in everything she had said and the heartfelt meaning behind it all. Biting back the pressure that threatened to break her carefully crafted armor, she swallowed hard. Now fighting for her composure which usually came easily, Phi was dismayed at a slight tremble that couldn't be repressed. Her throat felt stiff as if it didn't want words to pass through, but she forced herself to speak.

[Color=8882be]"I-I understand. You're.. right. So very right. It's quite the gift of insight, something special, amazing. I- th-thank you. Sorry, I'm stuttering like this, I just…. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure at first. People are often more than they appear and just meeting someone it can be hard to tell what's really inside their hearts. I've known too many people that… but you… you're different, aren't you?"[/color]

Stumbling over her thoughts and words so uncharacteristically Phi took a mental step back and tried to collect herself. It was probably a good idea to stop talking, come to think of it. Off balance as she was Phi didn't know where her thoughts were going or what she might say next. Yes, it was probably best to be quiet until she got herself under control again. Besides, she did have a delivery to make. Holding the seal tightly she rose to her feet to excuse herself.

[I]Right. Time to escape before.. [b] something [/b] happens.[/i]

[Color=8882be]"Thank you doesn't feel like quite enough. I didn't come here looking for comfort but…"[/color] Unable to find the right words to explain it she laughed at herself, before smiling at Amy without anything but gratitude to be seen. She was still shaking, her self control showing cracks where there were none before, but where words alone failed that smile spoke for her.

[@6slyboy6]