[color=silver]
[indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][table][row][/row][row][cell][sub][h1][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MTNbUrP.png[/img][/center][center][color=black][b]A K A I A[/b][/color][/center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5333243][center][color=bca346][b]A K A I A [/b][/color][/center][/url][/h1]

[center]The Wild   ·   Midnight   ·   A Man[/center][/sub][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][/table][hr]
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[color=white]"Look at me, girl."[/color]

Through the ambient crackle of snapping firewood and the noise of a feral growl between her ears did the man's voice reach a distracted Akaia. She struggled, but with effort managed to pull herself away from a prize she knew was hers and turned to stare daggers at the man addressing her. [i]He[/i] was layers of dirt caked like a second skin and eyes like bruises the color of exhaustion. There were lines in his forehead that looked as if they were carved out of stone and his beard reminded her of a dead tree. Like stripped branches hung upside down that clawed at the air under his chin. His complexion was dark and mottled, his nose bent and his lips chapped and sharp. When he spoke he spoke to her but stared at the fire between them both. Hot light danced reflections in the dark circles of his eyes and a knife glinted a bright orange as it tumbled lazily in his grasp.

[color=white]"This world..."[/color] He began when he could feel her gaze on him. [color=white]"...This world only wants one thing."[/color] He pushed the edge of the blade under a sliver of half-eaten burnt meat and with a quick horizontal slice, peeled free a thin layer that fell between two fingers. [color=white]"It wants to survive."[/color] Turning away from the fire, he noticed that once again, she was no longer focused on him but on what he had in his hands. [color=white]"¿Entiendes? It wants to survive... like me."[/color] With eyes ravenous watching his every move, he brought the morsel up to his mouth and tore it in half between stained rotting teeth. As he chewed, she watched, unmoving and unblinking. A girl entirely unaware of the world asleep around them and hyper-focused on the fact that there was still half of the sliver remaining. He continued to chew as he gestured at a bundle of dead crows by the fire. [color=white]"Like them."[/color] He then tossed the small piece of one of their own at her feet.

Akaia immediately fell to her knees next to the scrap she'd been offered and ate it directly off the forest floor.

[color=white]"Like you."[/color]

[color=DE3163]"I think we don't have to worry about Kaia not finishing the soup."[/color]

A soft and cheery voice cut through the surrounding dark like a familiar song. The fire, the trees and the midnight sky fell away until all that remained was the empty bowl in front of her.

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[center][sub]The Crow's Nest, Medical Bay  ·   Morning  ·   Interacting with [@DreamingFlowers], Mentions @Everyone
Collaboration with [@Medili][/sub][/center]
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Cerise's giggle was unmistakable. An easily recognizable melody like the bouncing of joy and a reminder that a certain Sidhe was not alone. There seated next to her at the table was her closest friend. The girl wore a smile Akaia knew well and a look of genuine happiness at the return of her sister. A look also imposed over one of amused surprise at the speed with which Akaia had consumed the questionable concoction.

Cerise moved to pick up the jug and began pouring some of the water into a glass. Whether to sate thirst or to save what remained of Akaia's tastebuds was anyone's guess. [color=DE3163]"Here Kaia. Don't forget the water too. Should make you feel much better."[/color]

Anxiety left in the wake of a half remembered dream was drowned in a warmth not easily forgotten. The care here was real and not a love covered in thorns. It was a rare thing to find, she knew, and it was a scary thought to know that it was not always like this. Even now as she took the glass from Cerise in both of her hands and nodded in compliance, she was afraid a touch would wake her up. But as she lifted the cup to her lips and took her first big gulp, the world around her remained... as it always did. Within the minute, the glass had been emptied as well.

[color=DE3163]"There you go. It's done, Poppy! Two bowls of soup and half of the jug of water, all gulped down. Hehe~"[/color]

Akaia smiled at Poppy triumphantly. Already, there was a bit of color returning to her pale skin, although even when healthy, there wasn't much to be found. To her surprise however, she also [i]felt[/i] a lot better. As was a glaring oversight on her part when focused on any given task, she hadn't taken into account the strain she'd put on herself and it was always others, namely Poppy, who took the time to notice it. Stranger still, it was [i]always[/i] her... as if she could tell before Akaia could. Even now, distracted as she was with the contents of the box Akaia had found for her, was Poppy thinking of Cerise.

[center][color=bca346][i]...Wait, what?...[/i][/color][/center]
Both Sidhe looked at the Revenant in the room who had already taken it upon herself to move the dishes to the wash basin. It was yet another task of care the girl had done on her own and a sobering reminder that this person so willing to tend to Akaia upon her return Akaia had left for a week. The small comment made earlier, although innocent she was sure, began to weigh heavily on her mind and it wasn't until Poppy that Akaia realized she could do something about how she felt.

[color=Lightcoral]"Thank you Akaia, I'll fill up the box with new supplies. We can still use it."[/color] Words of gratitude were loss on Akaia as she was already in her satchel a second time. Before Cerise returned to her seat, Akaia had produced a rather small bead of an object. Carried carefully in the palm of her hands was a miniscule, dirt brown seed that she placed on the table for Cerise to find.

[color=DE3163]"Ooh. A seed! Of what plant, Kaia?"[/color]

It was hard for the Sidhe to match the joy in the girl's eyes. Cerise's excitement was real. The possibilities Akaia was sure she could see were endless and yet, it seemed so small a gift compared to a useful box of supplies for Poppy or the location to something exciting Lysandra could fix. A seed was a needle in the haystack that was the Commune's garden and the collection of flora around the observatory belonging to Cerise and Akaia alone was extensive.

Akaia ignored the ask and replied with a shake of her head instead. [color=bca346]"Share."[/color] She stated simply. There was a tinge of guilt in her eyes as she looked at the Revenant. [color=bca346]"I am sorry you slept alone."[/color]

[color=DE3163]"Oh don't worry about it, Kaia."[/color] Cerise replied back, shaking her head in return and waving her hands. [color=DE3163]"Yes, I was worried and yes, it was lonely to sleep alone in the room... But the important thing is that you're back safe and sound. And that's more than enough to make me forget of the loneliness!"[/color]

Akaia pulled a fully loaded Glock 19 out of the satchel and placed it on the table as well, sliding the weapon over to Cerise. [color=bca346]"I am [i]so[/i] sorry."[/color]

Before either could elaborate further, noise from across the foyer drew Akaia's attention. On the far side of the room, it looked like four or five of their troop were in the process of loading the van. There was Lysandra, Dallas, Desmond, a male she was unfamiliar with and Ionna, whose face she lingered on a little longer than the others. A passing comment from Cerise identified her as one of the newer arrivals and Akaia had only permanently burned the knowledge of her being the master of Laplace into her mind. By now, her own crow had retreated from the smaller bird to Cerise's shoulder, picked a stray bit of lint from the girl's hair and flitted to safety in the rafters.

Then, there was Erik who had stepped out of the hall and addressed the three of them in the Medical bay, making a point to mention the two crows. Without a doubt, the entire commune was mobilizing and Akaia was reminded of the 'why' she returned home.

She turned to Poppy with an expectant and curious look. [color=bca346]"Work?"[/color] She asked before looking down at herself. [color=bca346]"Change. I should change."[/color] She then turned to Cerise. [color=bca346]"I am sorry. I should change. Are you hungry?"[/color]

Akaia pinched the skin of Cerise's arm.

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[/b][/h3][/sup][/color][/row][row][cell][sub][color=gray]Medili[/color][/sub]
[indent]Cerise sat beside Akaia as the Sidhe downed the bowls of Poppy's 'soup'. The teenage-looking Revenant giggled softly at that as she responded to the medic. [color=DE3163]"I think we don't have to worry about Kaia not finishing the soup, hehe."[/color] She then picked up the jug of water and a glass, pouring the liquid from the jug to fill the glass and offering it to Akaia with a warm big smile. [color=DE3163]"Here Kaia, don't forget the water too. Should make you feel much better."[/color][/indent]
[sub][color=gray]Exit[/color][/sub]
[indent]Akaia nodded obediently as she complied, taking the glass in both her hands and gulping down a surprisingly large amount. When she had had her fill, the glass was replaced and she was back to fishing around in her sack. This time, she produced a rather small bead of an object. In the palm of her hands was a miniscule, dirt brown seed. She placed it very carefully on the table in front of Cerise.

[color=bca346]"Share."[/color] She stated simply. There was a ting of guilt in her eyes as she looked at the Revenant. [color=bca346]"I am sorry you slept alone."[/color] She shook her head.

Meanwhile, Licorice had retreated to Cerise's shoulder, managed to pick a piece of lint out of the girl's hair and then abandoned his perch for something a little safer when Laplace continued his friendly assault. He shrilled at the smaller bird from the rafters.[/indent]
[sub][color=gray]Medili[/color][/sub]
[indent]Cerise watched as Akaia gulped all the water down, looking relieved as it really seemed like Akaia was alright after all. Exhausted perhaps, but fine nonetheless, and that was already all Cerise wished for. [color=DE3163]"There you go. It's done, Poppy! Two bowls of soup and half of the jug of water, all gulped down. Hehe~"[/color] As Akaia then rummaged through her sack, Cerise took the glass and the bowl, placing them into a washing basin to wash later. When she returned to her chair, she noticed the brown seed that Akaia had placed on the table.

Cerise's eyes lightened up with excitement at the sight of the seed. [color=DE3163]"Ooh. A seed! Of what plant, Kaia?"[/color] Already, she was eager for the possibility of adding even more variety of plant to the collection in their room, or in the garden, or even in one of the many pots that she and Akaia had placed around the Crows' Nest to decorate the place. But then she caught herself, waving her hands and shaking her head in return at Akaia's apology, still smiling. [color=DE3163]"Oh don't worry about it, Kaia. Yes, I was worried and yes, it was lonely to sleep alone in the room... But the important thing is that you're back safe and sound. And that's more than enough to make me forget of the loneliness!"[/color]

Her eyes then flicked toward Licorice and Laplace, giggling cheerfully at the sight of the younger crow stubbornly 'attacking' the older one. [color=DE3163]"Oh right. One of the new member, Ionna? This crow is hers. It's name is Laplace!"[/color][/indent]
[center][sup][color=gray]End[/color][color=2e2c2c]__________[/color][/sup][/center][/cell][cell][color=2e2c2c]____________________________________________________[/color][/cell][/row][/table][/color][/hider]
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