It isn’t so simple as reaching out and taking a dragon by the neck. Lotus’ chair squeaks as she pushes it back, and it’s the loudest noise she makes as she rises and passes around the table. She is too small to reach. She must get closer. Close enough to see the damage. Close enough to touch. Close enough to. To…

“Uhhh, why would I? It’s not anything serious. It’ll go away in a few days. Doesn’t. Really need…”

Han flicks her eyes up. Up. That’s where her eyes are. That’s where to look. Don’t pay attention to the splash of red at the edge of her vision, a shining jewel set in gold. Don’t cross the edge from smooth, flawless skin to someplace new. Don’t land where all is soft, and full, and warm. Don’t sink into a red so deep she cannot see the bottom.

“I heal pretty fast. You don’t gotta do any. Sorta. Priestess…thing.”

Glistening. Catching the lights above as a sweet voice flows like honey. Watch them dance and play, shaping around each passing word. Welcoming the sound. Gently, so gently, sending it on its way. To her. For [i]her.[/i] They meet, and part, and every beautiful thing she’s ever known was shadow and dust next to their mystery.

“H-hadn’t really see you, much. So. Not. Chances, to.”

Priestesses are to be seen, never touched. Demigods are priestesses times the biggest number she can think of. But words mean nothing now. Her own thoughts mean nothing now. Inside, she is nothing more than screaming, howling, clawing at her shame. A burning weight forces her down. All the strength in the world cannot lift her eyes. She cannot breathe. Stop. Stop. She’s [i]unveiled.[/i] She sees you. She’s right here. She knows. Stop it. Don’t. Not her. You can’t. Don’t. Stop. Stop. Is this what you want? Is this what you want?!

“Ugh. Just. Hold on-!”

She grabs the hem of her sleeveless robe and with a sharp jerk tears off a strip of cloth. The jagged edge frays, the whole thing is much too long, but it’ll work. It’ll work, dammit. 

With both hands, she reaches past Lotus’ shoulders, brushes back her hair, and ties a fumbling knot behind her head. Nothing fancy. Over and under and through and pull. Pull, until the gentlest pressure holds it in place. The length of opaque silk rests atop Lotus’ ears, perches on the very tip of her nose. It hangs down, hiding the lower half of her face. With each breath, it flutters. In, and out. Away, and back.

Lotus must think she’s being some kind of honorable. A makeshift veil, to protect a demigod’s modesty, torn from the only fabric she had to hand. She’ll feel Han’s fingers adjust the cloth against her temples, smooth out the wrinkles, and she’ll think her [i]nice.[/i]

Her thumb presses into her lips. It sinks into soft warmth. The barest hint of friction tugs at her skin as she traces across them.

Lotus freezes where she stands. Later, she’ll think it an accident.

“There. Better.” She sits back. Withdraws her tingling hand. “You, uh, said something about helping?”

Wrong, bud. All wrong.

This veil’s not for you. It’s for her. A dragon. A greedy, ugly, [i]beast[/i] who can’t control herself. Barely better than your stupid host. Hide yourself away. You don’t want to be hers. You can’t be hers. The day you see her for who she truly is, see her burn the world in her hunger, will be the last day she ever sees you.

Hold fast, little veil. Don’t tear just yet. 

please.

[Han is Smitten with Lotus, finally. She accepts Lotus’ help, but first must do something about her mouth. Han takes two Strings on Lotus, clears Frightened. Lotus takes a String on Han. Emli takes two Strings on Lotus, and three on Han.]