Closed

[motheroffaces]

ooc: The posts in here will take place shortly prior to part 2 of the plot.

A. Docks (Closed to Bumi) - The yelp is cut off all too quickly. The woman's pale hand snakes forward, impossibly fast, closing around the man's throat. She's strong -- too strong -- the momentum of it sends him crashing back against the wall, pinning him under her grasp. Her fingers press like daggers into the soft flesh at his jaw and around his windpipe. Her eyes are cold and black as stones.

He will not be leaving this encounter easily. If at all.

"The Avatar believes that you are capable of learning." Her gaze never leaves his face. "I do not."

B. Spirit Wilds (Closed to Mia) - The water of the former fountain twists in response to the footsteps, swirls. The Mother of Faces emerges from the depths, the great branches of her crown dripping.

She surveys the group -- two stone-faced men, each with a pouch dangling at their belts, holding onto a small, blue-haired girl. One hand lifts; the girl is released. Apparently the Mother has no concern about the girl running off.

"Mia." The name is greeting and question both. What exactly had she been doing?

Comments

[mercuryadept]

Mia remains on her knees looking up to the Mother as she leaves her pool. There's an implicit trust about her, even if nothing makes sense to her. All of the context, all of the meaning behind the words that Uma has told her is completely missing, and therefore Mia just can't comprehend what's going on. Instead, all she can do is look up, just lost in this place despite being in a sea of familiar locations.

"Best I am here?" she manages to squeak. "You mean... instead of out where the vines are? Instead of the city? Why? What's going on? Why is all of this happening?"

The Mother of Faces was duly right in her lack of concern over Mia trying to escape. Despite the panic welling up within her, there's still an ounce of safety in this place and in her presence. She can't help but not trust the spirit before her.

[motheroffaces]

"You are in no danger here." The Mother's hand lifts briefly, the backs of her fingers grazing the girl's cheek -- a gesture meant to calm, to soothe. "I would see you safe. You have done well by me . . . and the smaller spirits speak well of you. You are rare in this world -- rare in your kind."

"The city will soon not be safe for you."

[mercuryadept]

The touch of the Mother's fingers at Mia's cheek is comforting. Mia almost can't help but close her eyes just a moment and focus on just breathing. It pushes those questions slightly further away, makes them slightly less important. She's still horribly confused, but the amount of trust and security in this moment helps alleviate those feelings.

But when the Mother says the city will not soon be safe, she opens her eyes, and there's a strong concern for people she knows. People she cares about.

She doesn't speak her trust, though she shows it. Her eyes look deeply into Uma's, and she won't run. But she still has to do something.

"If the city's in danger, I need to go tell people. People need evacuated. People need to be safe. Even if it's dangerous, I want to help them."