Haine

A while had passed and Hel had proven herself an obstacle. This should have been... relatively easy. Did she miscalculate the creature's might? Perhaps. Haine worked up a sweat, deflecting attacks and countering them with her own. In the end, her power was only enough to leave a scratch. She wiped the moisture from her brow and cast a glance at the others, seemingly as weary. Some were preparing to disengage from combat. It was a wise choice. They needed to regroup later, buff better, maybe bring some extra aid along for a rerun. For now, her efficiency wasn't enough to aid the group. "I... don't think we're gonna make this one. We really need a breather. Who's in favor?"

The woman retreated behind a pillar for cover and brought out a teleport crystal. She closed her eyes and imagined the entrance of the floor behind the dungeon. She uttered a few words, and upon the confirmation of her party, returned to the entrance for a breather.

Haine uses a teleport crystal and leaves the thread.

The last chain broke, and with that, the soldier skittered away. He muttered not a word, flying out like a bat out of hell. She would've too, were her life force slowly drained to aid some gargantuan creature. "Good one!" She called out to those by the shackles. "Now we can slap this thing." She gestured towards the berserk Hel, irate from having her defenses torn. She had no means to heal, and no meat shields to throw in front of her. Maybe she knew it would go downhill from here. It was finally time to go out with a bang. Haine wiped the sweat from her palms and seized the glaive. The next objective was plain and simple. Not much else, just to slap this thing into oblivion.

 She muttered the words of her sword art, the blade charging. Attacks were like second nature now. She pointed the sword in a general direction and moved, and some unknown force corrected her movements, gave her the weightlessness and agility only a system could emulate.

This was only the beginning of it. The gargantuan creature was reminiscent of a reptile, with greyed, scaled skin and pupils like slits. It felt as if eye contact would turn her into stone, like those mythological stories. Hel's peaceful rest on the throne was disrupted by a sword wedged close to her jugular. She moved, and with that, the ground shook. She ripped out the sword with relative ease, with as much ease as picking a hair would. Haine rolled her shoulders. This would be... a hassle. It seemed like the creature was almost impervious to their attacks. Maybe there was something else to be done first.

The woman readied her glaive, drawing her sight to shackled figures behind the throne. The shackles glowed a crimson color, leaving the figures in a perpetual state of weakness. Some didn't have the energy to thrash around, while some others fought on their last straws. Interesting. It seemed as if those shackles sucked the life out of them. For now, Haine drew her attention to the boss. Unless other orders presented themselves, she focused on the big guy. She charged her glaive and moved in to attack.

Hel was as disturbing as she appeared hypnotic. A gargantuan woman rested over a throne, with three soldiers shackled beside her. They posed as an obstacle, guarding the woman in front of them. She recalled her last run of this dungeon. Once Hel's health reached a certain threshold, she almost leeched the life force from those soldiers surrounding her. They served as an endless generator of fuel to the creature. The big, bad guy would come last. The woman fixed her attention to the shackles on the soldiers. That would be their only way to her. She gripped her blade and targeted the soldier on the far right. The others were swift to release the soldiers. With only one remaining, it wouldn't be long till they faced Hel. Haine reserved her energy. A basic attack was all she needed to get through those chains. She sprinted up to the throne, and with a step to the side, the blade clashed against the chains. A dent in the middle and the chains seemed worn out. It could only take a hit or two more.

ID: 187497 | LD: 15

Nihilim’s Wrath [ TIER 4 PERFECT 2HAS ]
PHASE | HOLY | ACC

Reward Choice | SP please.

Blunt and to the point. Haine's feet shuffled, seeking something to do in the midst of this awkwardness. Tip of her boot plays with the gravel and her head hangs low for a second. She hates this. She has enough of a backbone to meet the redhead's eyes, squaring her shoulders. Hands drop to her sides as the tip of the other's axe loses its glow. Haine's weapon being sheathed could hopefully placate her a little. She waits for the woman to leave, though it seems she insists on a confrontation. A quiet "Alright then," is all she manages. Fair enough. Haine begins to regret her brashness. She feels almost like a puppy, following her out the cave and into the open.

A warm breeze ghosts Haine's skin, unpleasant but favorable over the cavern's steam. She finds a place under the entrance, well shaded from the sun's rays. She inhales deeply and casts her attention at the woman who whips around. A moment later and Haine exhales. She isn't aware of holding her breath. "Look, I'm sorry if I offended you," she cuts in, tone firm and eyes soft. Her best, pathetic attempt to be unfazed. She gestures with her hands as she speaks. "I'll give you my loot as an apology. Would that be alright?" She meets fiery amber eyes for a moment, and the intensity is all but piercing. She averts her gaze for a moment.

With a flourish of her glaive, the crowd thins out as soon as it comes her way. Some level of bravado lingers, though it isn't hard to look flashy when she overpowers the pack. Haine thinks only of herself that moment, of the past three days in grueling heat. She simply wants it over with, and what better opportunity than to finish it here in process? Most of her spontaneous battles end on agreeable terms. It's mutual benefit when she lends a helping hand in some way. She rolls her shoulders and moves to sheath her spear, though in that second, a blitz of fiery red catches her attention.

Amber eyes ignite with ire and the redhead woman spits. Haine's eyes widen at the edge in her tone, her demeanor calm yet her tone dripping with disdain. "Woah-" In a split second, the axe thuds at the pavement, sparks flying. She winces as they come at eye level and steps aside. Oh, how pleasant. It's not often Haine lands in conflict. "Well." She swallows thickly, her glaive still pointed at her side. She slowly moves to stow it away and holds her hands up as a sign of peace. "I didn't steal your kill. I'm here on the same quest." She clears her throat. "So I figured I'd help."

"Yes, let's." She crossed her legs and spared a brief moment to wait for any commentary. What an odd pair. She remained composed, and her eyes sought between the two to draw some conclusion. Nothing uttered except a word of confirmation from both. She wished not to sit among those two in silence. "Alright then! Let's get a move on." She nodded her head and slid out of her chair. She moved to the entrance and propped the door open for the two. The walk into the forest was silent for a couple minutes, with Haine enjoying the pleasant town view on the way over. City walls thinned into thickets and conversation finally sprung.

She cut in when she found a chance, spear manifested in her grip. "I don't think any order will be necessary," she note, with a pep in her step. "Consider it a free for all!" Her shoulders relaxed and she moved in front of the group, letting the others share a moment of whatever underlying animosity they had. Commentaries from before went across her mind as she tried to connect the pieces, though her train of thought was cut short from a barrage of nepents. "Here they come! Look alive!" she played along, twirling her glaive. She moved at a leisure pace between the two and whistled. A group of four tunneled underground and sprung at her from all sides. She pivoted on her heel, swiping clean through them.

As long as the other approved, she thought. A warm smile spread on her face. A sense of clarity washed over her. It would be okay. Time had a way of working itself out. She did what she could in her control, and she was fortunate enough to have her sister alive. Moreover, the past day with Eruda instilled a sense of comfort. Having a shoulder to cry on felt therapeutic for the bottle-up. "Thank you so much." She folded her hands in her lap and exhaled deeply. The nickname Ne was a new one, a little odd on the ears even though she appreciated the sentiment. The more she repeated it in her head, the more it clicked. A feeling of warmth in her chest as the woman leaned in and wrapped her arms around her. An earnest sentiment. Her eyes wide for a moment, until she relaxes and brings her arms around to return the hug. "Love you too, Eru." Haine relaxes for a moment, eyes fluttering shut. A moment passes as they relax, Eruda visibly more tired while Haine regains a bit of her pep are oversleeping. She scoots off the mat and moves to the porch to enjoy some fresh air. It's then that a message chimes:

Quote

Hey. I'm really sorry about what I said. Can we talk about it? Lunch, your favorite. Tomorrow at 2.
Ruri

THREAD COMPLETE

Haine & Eruda receive: 2 SP (1 pg, 1 bonus) + 200 COL EA.

A weak smile escapes the woman. "Well, thank you both." She continues to eat, hoping the sustenance would quell these pangs. She scoots the plate to Eruda and gestures to the other set of chopsticks. "Share some with me, I'm not that hungry." It's a gesture of affection as she scoops half onto the other side of the plate. She casts a glance at a practically salivating Raserei. They look sad. She almost wants to sneak a peace onto the mat for them.

A few moments later, the plate is almost empty, save for a few pieces she offers to the wolf. Haine listens intently as Eruda continues, forming words of advice. She scoots back, taking deep breaths. She's uncomfortably full and it's almost hard to catch air. "I'd sure hope not," the bluenette comments with a soft chuckle. Eruda was right. Ruri was family, and her butt wasn't going anywhere. Of course she was upset. What felt like a night's rest slapped her in the face several years later. Of course it wasn't going to be a walk in the park. And yes... it would be painful to adjust to a world without their brother. There was nothing they could do but grieve together, and Haine wouldn't let her go through it alone. All they had was each other. In light of the wisdom, the woman's eyes widen. "You're right. There was nothing I could have done." Her plans had no rhyme or reason. She wasn't someone skilled enough to find a cure. She only coped and bided her time.

"But she's all I have, and I'll remain patient." Her mind lingers. "As long as she's safe and alive, that's all that matters to me." She pauses a moment to reflect, and it's then that her gaze returns to the blonde woman across from her. "You're pretty good at pep talks, Eru." She catches herself a moment later with a gasp, scratching her temple. "Too much? Be honest."

Inferno Cavern Entered (-10 HP upon CD roll 5 or lower), ID#186969 results: Craft: 11 [Safe]

A volcanic mass and a couple many mutts. How hard could it be? She affirmed these thoughts in head as she stalked through the rocky terrain. The more her feet carried her, the more grueling the adventure felt. Three days of agony with no short cuts, it better well be worth the effort. At least she couldn't feel the elements as intense as she could before. Her survival shield acted like a heat propellent, only a light sensation evident over the sweltering heat. The burn in her calves didn't stop, a light, uncomfortable tingle. Just a little more to push...

Soon enough, it had been three days. A thick, dark fog hung over the sky, shrouding Haine's periphery. There was that familiar, thick scent of ash that was almost offensive to smell. She covered her nose with a cloth wrapped around her nose, inhaling sharply. An ominous cave, lit up in flames drew her closer. The checkpoint updated on her map, leading into it. She followed suit, through the caverns where a shrill screech alerted her attention. Glaive in hand, Haine's eyes narrowed. Danger, just among these corners. She stalked closer and slinked behind a wall.

Wild, red locks caught her attention first before anything else. She stepped aside, revealing a titan-sized, three-headed dog. Right in tow were several hideous mutts. Seeing the beeping on her map, that had to be it. The woman gulped. They looked a lot more daunting than their stats implied. Nonetheless, she stepped out of the covering. "Over here, pup!" she hollered out, with a flourish of her glaive. She spared the redhead a brief nod and wiped out the cerberus in a few clean swings. She rolled her shoulders and spared a glance at the woman. "Sorry to intrude! Great timing, eh?"

Haine's frozen with the covers wrapped around her. Her suspicions heighten at the silhouette of a large wolf at the corner of the room. As the animal tentatively approaches, she squints, peeks up from under the blankets. She can hardly recognize the silhouette of a wolf until it approaches, licking her hands affectionately. The presence of some other life is reassuring, calms her down a little more. She's still on edge, trying to recover from it, hands skimming over the animal's fur. She leans in and distinguishes its features, drawing the lines. "Ra...serei?" The wolf's ears perk at the sound of its name. "It is you." She sighs a ragged breath. "How big you've grown. Do you remember me?" As if to confirm her question, the wolf crawls into her lap and lays down. The warmth and the feeling of a rhythmic heartbeat relaxes her and she wraps her arms around them.

Moments later, the blonde woman approaches, platter of food in hand. The light switches on and she feels an instant weight off her shoulders. Her frame relaxes and she gives a nod of acknowledgement. The platter is set on the floor and Haine frowns. She doesn't have the appetite. Even the smell of steak is lackluster to her depressed state. "I..." she starts, though her reasoning falls flat. It's incredibly rude to reject something as a guest when offered it. She smiles and looks reluctantly at the plate. "I guess I'll have a little." She pats Raserei's butt as if to get it to move from her lap and brings the plate close. She takes the glass of juice and sips, setting it down on the floor. "I'm sorry for the ruckus," Haine admits, earnestly. "I'm just afraid of being alone in the dark." A move to the plate of food, she scoops small portions and chews them slowly. There must be some magical property in them to recover her appetite. A well crafted blend of spices and textures melt in blissful harmony. Haine closes her eyes and hums. "This is... really good."

She's barely coherent at this point, slipping into the comfort of a tired haze. She stares at nothing in particular and feels her eyelids droop. She doesn't notice Eruda standing up until she places a palm on her back, soothing it affectionately. Haine jumps, blinking wide as she snaps back to reality. "I'm really sorry." Her reply is soft and raspy, barely audible as she turns her head around. Her eyes meet Eruda's which are fortunately understanding. Haine accepts the invitation with a nod nonetheless, letting the woman help her up to her feet. Their cups of coffee are half full and long since cold.

Haine steps into the shop, but for the most part she takes in nothing. Just beige walls and a blur of furniture and fabrics as she leans against Eruda. She steps into the room and sinks against the wall, taking a seat on the floor while the other fixes the bedding. Moments later, she's helped to it and tucked in, head laying on the blonde's lap. She tries to fight for consciousness, blinking to no avail as the feeling of her back being soothed relaxes her. An airy "thank you" is all she manages before her head lolls to the side, fatigue taking over. She's finally reached that point of exhaustion where she can't process anything, just the feeling of her consciousness slipping out. The room goes dark and she drifts away.

Moments later, the woman's consciousness returns. A dark blue filters through the room, a soft light illuminating her skin. She tilts her head to the side, stretching her limbs. She yawns and wills her eyes wide open. A glance at the window reveals it's already late at night, with nothing but the moon's soft shine to illuminate the room. She groans and tosses to her side, laying there a moment. She stares at the closet, her mind drawing a blank. Her head is empty as she basks in that fleeting moment of peace before she feels unsettled. It's dark.

Haine feels her skin crawl and her heart lurching in her chest. She hates it here. She can hear those sounds in the dark again, a skittering from behind her. She shoots up and gasps, head whipping to each side. She sees... nothing. She knows there's nothing. But she's afraid even still. She always keeps some sort of night light at home. She hates the dark, hates sleeping alone. "E-Eruda?" She calls out. She hears nothing but a sound of shuffling from the distance. "Eruda?!" A little louder this time, pulling the covers tight around her. It's that feeling like she can't breathe, no matter how hard she fights for air.

One particular line sticks in her memory, about many days and nights spent in efforts of a cure. "Probably," Haine adds, with a weak smile. Eruda had a point. He worked hard, carried an entire guild under his leadership. She was proud of him for coming this far, for growing from the cryptic, anxious being he was. She missed a good chunk of the ride, seeing the guild grow along with his presence. She just had a feeling it was monumental. He would've worked hard to protect most anyone under the wing of this guild, even if Haine were somebody else. He was just too virtuous.

But then again.

She looked into it more. It'd been a whole year and he always kept her posted on his experiments. This was far too much effort and sacrifice for what it was worth if he were truly doing some good deed. Either he had some connection to Ruri she was oblivious to, or he deeply valued their friendship. She squeezed the cup and furrowed her brows in thought. Haine took another sip of the coffee and nursed it in her lap. "I'm really not sure. If they did spend time without me, I wasn't informed." Her emotional state stabilized, the tears having long dried. All that remained was her expression, zapped of its usual energy. She spaced out, short of words. Thinking of nothing in particular besides how fried her brain felt.

Haine swirls the cup of her favorite latte, staring at the pretty heart shape drawn into the center. The delicious smell causes her mouth to water, spiking her appetite. She brings the cup to her lips and takes a small sip. The warmth of the drink soothes her dry throat. Eruda continues, and Haine's attention perks at the question. She sets the cup down, a milk moustache above her lips. "She always followed me, she was bound to meet him." Haine swirls the drink with her straw, watching the milk mix with the coffee. She sighs. "But I don't think Ru and Rai were that close."  She releases the straw and looks up at Eruda. "But I'm sure he wanted to help me as a friend. As a leader of the guild." A momentary pause and she comments with a half hearted chuckle.

"To think this could all be solved with some potion."

Then comes the questions. With Haine's inhibitions lowered, she doesn't seem to care about spilling her thoughts as much. Would Eruda mind this side of Haine? It might have come across as whiplash, unsolicited airing of her grievances. Haine props her chin against her palm and lets out a ragged sigh. She somehow manages to stifle an outburst. The conversation seems to placate these emotions, therapeutic in a way. "This won't make sense to you, but I'll try to explain." Haine sniffles her runny nose and wipes it with her sleeve.

"We were in this... cave? We were trapped and these things---" Haine tilts her head and tries to piece together her words. "These creatures attacked us. The last thing I remember is Raidou and Kiluia finding me." It was traumatizing to think of the dark, of the sounds of things skittering while she was trapped in some cocoon, unable to breathe or move a limb. Her consciousness slowly fading, suspended for what felt like an infinite amount of time. She willed her brain to shut down, and finally, it did. When she awoke, the world didn't stop for her to play catch up. She's still afraid of the dark, the sound of eerie skittering playing in her mind whenever she was left alone in it. "Kiluia and Ruri were trapped too, but we found Ru much later." She feels her nose running again and fishes for a napkin in her inventory. She blows her nose loudly and sniffles.

"We found her, but she was trapped in a coma for almost a year. We didn't think she'd make it but Raidou---" Haine's eyes begin to well up. "He saved her. I owe him my life." She did. He was a virtuous man to go through such lengths to help a friend. After the news of her sister's coma, the woman couldn't rest. She pushed everyone away in her grief, feeling responsible for what happened to her. If only she'd been strong enough to protect her. If only she could break her out of this spell. Raidou was perceptive, read her mind like a book. After much convincing, she let him shoulder her pain. All of the responsibility of seeing to her survival. She hadn't known what went on behind the scenes, but she knew he was working hard. Week after week, researching cures to save her until one lucky vial did the trick. Were it not for him, would she have ever woken up?

Her lips quiver after an earnest confession. She isn't one to wear her heart on her sleeve. For every burden she faces, all she knows is to suppress. Her priority had always been to protect her loved ones, give them her all and remain close. She was the comforter, the protector, and she wouldn't have that any other way. A middle child feeling lost among her siblings, being the mediator was almost a task that naturally fell on her. Opening up felt therapeutic, though dangerous as her grip of these emotions loosened. She swallowed hard to fight a sob as these burdens pulled into her consciousness. It's then that Eruda begins, to pull Haine away from this mess, hopefully to give her some clarity.

The bluenette's head hangs low, blue bangs framing her eyes like a curtain. She listens to the other's experience, and as time went on, she clicked the pieces in her head. She thought it almost eerie how similar their experiences aligned, near identical though Haine hadn't divulged the details. It was a hypothetical side of Ruri's perspective, emotions of a sister who felt betrayed by another. Over some guy, though maybe she hadn't been present to witness the other's plight. How could she have possibly known?

Haine's head slowly raises from her lap, eyes searching Eruda's as they tear up. A drop or two falls onto the counter as she pours out her past, and for that, the woman feels a sense of comfort, similarity. They both had their demons. The advice ends on a brighter note, open ended, though leaving room for more questions in Haine's head. "Making a life for myself," she comments, a rasp in her tone from straining her voice. "My life here was those two." Haine feels a tear tickle the corner of her lip and wipes it away with haste. "My siblings."  She never mentioned her brother to anyone, it never came up. She didn't like to dredge up the past. Keith would be gone and she was already accustoming herself to the harsh reality. But to lose them both? She would've fallen apart if Ruri didn't come back.

"If or when Ruri forgives me, I'll be there for her." Haine thinks of this mess. The girl had always been territorial over her sister, out of a fierce sense of protection and belonging. "But how? How can I make her see this from my side? She has every right to assume the worst of me." The woman pushes her bangs back to have a clearer view of Eruda.

Haine isn't the keenest, but it isn't hard to see that the bull horned man held something against the silver haired man. Her invitation for a meal goes unnoticed by the one who seems the most wired up, springing out of his seat to throw hands with the other. Haine gasps and covers her mouth, watching dumbfounded as the scene unfolded. What an interesting turn of events. "H-Hey--" she attempts to reason, gesturing a pause with both hands. Her attempts were too calm and passive, but perhaps the sight of others staring at them was enough to deter any drama. Even if push came to shove, it was near impossible to get away with a full on brawl here. There was some net of security to be thankful for in the safe zones.

Haine folds her hands together and stares with wide eyes until the man named Weed settles down. She fixes her attention on the calmer of the duo, Valentine. "... That's good! Then we're all ready to go?" She gestures between the two. Maybe a small meal break would do more harm than good for the situation here. Better to give them something to do, less talk and more work.

She clears her throat and continues. "So it's an easy quest, no doubt. Kill a few nepents, get to the big bad guy. No real strategies, I think it's overkill with this team. Ready to roll when you guys are!" She nods in confirmation and folds her hands in her lap. She waits for a response from the other two, for any questions or other formalities before the quest begins.

Haine sniffles and the tears begin to spill over. She casts a brief glance about the shop. It's empty for the most part, just these two and an NPC behind the counter, a permanent smile fixed to his face. He doesn't seem to have any care for the source of distraction. She feels her shoulders slouch a little more, relaxed at some semblance of privacy. A soft hand on Haine's cheek pulls her back to the moment when she'd just begun to pull away, almost hesitant to go on. Eruda's expression is reassuring and comforting, of full and undivided attention. Haine's tears spill onto the countertop and her breath is shaking. "What else could I have done?" Haine looks into Eruda's eyes and grabs her hand which was wiping her tears away. She holds it for a moment, not able to rationalize in the midst of her emotions. She just knows that holding Eruda's hand is comforting that moment.

"My sister. She was stuck there. Like me -- for years." Haine breaks into a sob. "I didn't think... she was going to ever make it." Haine shakes her head in disbelief, her shoulders shaking. "She's back and I feel for her. Everything's changed. Everything." Haine's head hangs low and she stares at the cup of melting yogurt. In a good mood, she would've stolen a few bites of that cup already, like a kid in a candy store, excited to try it all. "I was honest with her, but I pushed her away."

"Yeah?" Haine comments, absently. She's there in person, but physically, her mind is a swarm of these turmoils. She doesn't meet Eruda's eyes, gaze affixed at nowhere in particular. The dejected tone doesn't match her half hearted expression, and suddenly, she's too off guard to feel the way her eyes begin to well. It's like a haze, her inhibitions lowered from a lack of sleep. She brings her hands to the table and lays them flat. It's then that Eruda's keen senses catch on that something is amiss with her typically bubbly friend. She lacks that happy go lucky exterior, she's short of words. The blonde's hands clasp over her dear friend's. The gesture of kindness pulls Haine away from her foggy thoughts and towards the woman in front of her. Haine's teary eyes meet Eruda's and the sincerity in them. She's afraid of opening up with these thoughts, but she had to. She didn't know what else to do about her predicament.

Haine gulps and tries her best to blink back those tears, ignore the way that her throat seems to constrict as she finds it harder to breathe. "Eruda I..." She doesn't even know where to begin. "I'm so lost. I don't know what to do." Haine breaks the eye contact and looks down at her lap, hands pulling away. "I feel like I messed up I--" Haine's words die down as her brain short circuits.

The moment grows tense, with Katoka stepping away, leaving Haine and Sam to their chatter. Haine leans back in her seat and crosses her legs. The topic shifts to a darker note, to that of the front lines and all of the risks involved. Haine was soon to be among those ranks, she was aware of the precautions. For all the inner turmoil that exists, Haine wants some semblance of normalcy and peace. She can still have something beautiful among this mess. "Beautifully said, Sam," Haine starts, tilting her head. She feels the chair's soft fabric against her head. The proposition of a double wedding would be outlandish, were it not for the circumstances now. It had more meaning now and it made sense to have a double wedding. There was a sense of unity to it, something so beautiful and profound. Haine would feel relaxed having a bigger wedding to evade the fact she had barely any connections nowadays. "And I like that idea," Haine adds. "I think it'll be fun!"

The army remains incessant, one after another. It's as if every time one falls, another emerges to take its place. Her energy is barely expended, though the inconvenience is enough to strike a nerve. She twists her soles in the dirt, charging her glaive. She whistles, drawing the attention of the herd her way. They stalk up to her, but her instincts react quicker. It's only the reflex of a trained duelist, or maybe a touch of fear looking at these creepy things. Hell if she'd let those things touch her.

A touch more haste than intended results in a shoddy swing, cleaving through some but not all of them. Her spear connects with the dirt, lodging in it. She pulls back her weight, though the force of the impact has it nearly staked in. "For fricks sake," she mumbles under her breath. She pushes her frame backwards, gripping the spear and pulling it. The enemy sees an opportune moment to try and strike. She looks back at the others and calls out.

"A little distraction?"

Luckily, Haine doesn't need to wait long. A chime gathers her attention and she perks up. A set of coordinates attached near a location for Froyo seemed tempting enough. Haine fires back a message of confirmation at rapid speed. She swipes away her HUD and glances across the room towards the figure snoring peacefully under the covers. Asmura cuddles with the polar cub, arms squeezing around Mishka tightly. It was a peaceful sight to witness, and Haine didn't want to interrupt that. She slowly inches off the loveseat and tiptoes out of the room. She moves to the bathroom and tidies her appearance and makeup so she could at least seem half alive. Her unusually blotchy concealer makes it evident that she's in a rush or trying to hide a disastrous case of dark circles. She fixes her hair in a ponytail and throws on a comfortable pink tunic.

Moments later, she teleports to the Town of Beginnings. A flurry of blonde tufts catches Haine's attention at the rendezvous point. She notices her dear friend through the shop window, enjoying a cup of strawberry yogurt. The bluenette musters a half hearted smile and knocks on the window to call the woman's attention. She waves playfully and rounds the corner, stepping into the shop. Moving to the set of chairs, she pulls out the one across from Eruda and settles in. "Sorry to bother you so early, Eruda. Froyo for breakfast huh?" Haine crosses one leg over the other and places her palms on her lap. There's something off about her tone, like she's visibly out of it. A zombie that could definitely use some extra sleep.

The night before was the hardest to endure.

Kiluia returns from work to a silent home, a dejected fiancee, and two familiars cowering in the corner. Try as he might, but he couldn't spill a word from her. All he receives is a plead for some space and explanations for it later. He reluctantly obliges, and Haine spends her time seeking distractions. She's with Asmura, sprawled on the loveseat in her bedroom. There's something relaxing about watching her in her element, oblivious and at peace. It gives her some semblance of escape from her thoughts, idly sitting by and playing with watercolors. Her work lacks any inspiration, a series of ill blended splotches. Time ticks on and she spends the whole night tossing and turning.

Dawn breaks over the horizon, an acceptable time for somebody to be awake. She doesn't want to be alone with these thoughts anymore. She needs clarity and can't rest until it's ascertained. Her mind wanders to her dear friend Eruda. The woman confided in Haine, and through that they'd grown closer. The woman would be there to support her friend, that had been certain. But what had Eruda known of Haine's personal struggles? The bluenette kept those emotions under lock and key. They weren't appropriate to air around if she could sort through it with her own resolve.

That had been her perspective until it'd been too much to bear. She just needed an ear, somebody to confide in lest she act upon her own irrational judgments. The bluenette rubs her puffy eyes and yawns. A few swipes produces a menu and her friend's PM's.

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Eruda. Are you busy? I need some advice. Can we meet when you're free?
- Haine