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[lilacwood]

(A slender, white figure is sitting on the shore of a peaceful river. She is dripping wet, her knees drawn up to her chest. Warily, she glances at her communicator, pushing back her thick mane of white hair absently.)

You mustn't move too much or too fast in this heat. When you feel overwhelmed, find the shade of a tree or cool water.

(Amalthea closes her eyes and stretches out in the grass, resting on her side.)

This forest is like mine. I could rest...

(If her skin wasn't so sensitive to sunlight...bugs... How do humans stand it?)

Does anyone remember me?

Comments

[lilacwood]

A shred is better than none. (She is perhaps the most honest - and blunt - lady he will encounter. The more human she becomes, that will not change for she thinks herself a noble.)

...a giant tree? Yes, I would like to see it. (He has managed to coax a curious Unicorn to him again.)

[ubiquitously]

Then let's not accidentally destroy that shred, hm?

[He sort of guessed that he could coax her out of hiding with that.] And yes. The apartments seem to blend in with the forest around, so I think that you would enjoy it. They're close to the forest too, so you could go out every day.

Why don't I come meet you and show you the way?

[lilacwood]

I do not destroy. (On purpose anyway. She has a way of trampling emotions as a human. Oops.)

Do you know the river? (She can walk back to her apartment, but the sun feels nice.)

I am almost dry.

[ubiquitously]

[Yeah, he's noticed! And yet, he finds it charming and amusing. She hasn't trampled on his feelings yet either, so that may be why it doesn't bother him.]

Yes, I know the way there. Take your time and I shall arrive shortly.

[lilacwood]

(She doesn't do it on purpose, which is darkly amusing. Hopefully she doesn't do enduring damage to anyone. Even if she does, she likely won't notice.)

Stay cool. (Is she...trying to be nice? Oh dear.)

video -> action

[ubiquitously]

[It takes all of his willpower not to respond with a bad joke, such as "I'm always cool!" since he knows such humor won't stick its landing with her.

But he does thank her before hanging up and heading off to the river. Uai only detours to pick up some bottled water for her, then manages to make his way in record time. When he spots Amalthea by the water, he lifts a hand to wave.]

There you are!

action

[lilacwood]

(No, she will think he is cold-blooded. In that case, he will need the heat to stay mobile!

She is wearing a white dress and in the time it took him to arrive, she has braided her still somewhat damp hair. Spying the movement out of the corner of her eye, she glances at him.)

I have not moved. (She is very good at staying perfectly still. Of course that won't help her much now. Slipping on her shoes, she stands up and frowns faintly. She doesn't care for shoes.)

Someone spoke of biting fish. Have you heard of them?

[ubiquitously]

[He smiles at that, resisting the urge to tease. By the time that she is standing, Uai has come to her side to offer assistance.

The question earns a curious expression, almost childish with excited wonder. Biting fish? The gears in his head are turning, eager for a mystery.]

I have not. Unless, perhaps they meant sharks or piranhas? [Uai looks at the river again. Maybe this place is more exciting than he realized.] You didn't get bitten by something, did you?

[lilacwood]

They would not bite me. (She gazes at the water, drawn to it. A river is not the sea, but the water is beautiful. If the Red Bull were here, it would be a beautiful prison.)

No animal comes near me. (She has seen animals fighting themselves, wanting to be closer to her and yet fearing it.)

[ubiquitously]

Well, I'm not an animal. Guess you're stuck with me?

[He says that with a smile, but he can't imagine how she lives that way. It sounds horrendously lonely. Why would she want to go back to being a unicorn?]

You wanted to see the apartment, right? The tree one?

[lilacwood]

Does that mean you wish to be near me? (Unicorns are never lonely; they never question their existences. If they wish company, they seek out other Unicorns. If not, they are complacent pretending like the forest - or wherever they reside - is all theirs to hold, to keep and to protect.)

I do.

[ubiquitously]

Better that than alone, or something.

[It's a bit embarrassing when she puts it so bluntly, but he isn't complaining about her blunt personality. No one is here to tease him anyway.]

Then let's go. It's a nice place, all in all, and I think it will suit you. Plus, there's a hot spring there. Do unicorns have hot springs?

[lilacwood]

...I suppose. (Humans really don't like being alone. She steps up to his side and runs her fingers through her hair anxiously.) A...hot spring? I remember a waterfall and a stream. I danced in the spray.

[ubiquitously]

Alone? [Just clarifying. He still wonders how she was happy alone. Not to judge her or say she's wrong, because it's new to him. Uai is honestly interested in what makes a unicorn tick.

Though, he knows to balance his curiosity with manners.]

It's sort of like a small lake that's really warm. When humans get tired and sore, they soak in them to feel better. Maybe unicorns can enjoy it too?

[lilacwood]

Yes. (Except for the fish and maybe a curious deer or two.) I did everything alone. I have not seen my own kind in...

I don't know how long. (She hadn't had an urge to find them. When she heard they had disappeared entirely, that had changed.)

This body can be tired and sore. A Unicorn would have no use for a soak.

[ubiquitously]

I could never live that way myself. But then again, I'm the furthest thing from a unicorn.

[Being a dragon corpse is pretty different.

He perks with untamed curiosity when she differentiates between her Unicorn and human body. Then, naturally, he blurts uncensored musings.]

What about your mind? Do you want to be alone like a Unicorn, and for me to buzz off??

[lilacwood]

N-No! (She flushes and then pales, standing very stiffly, her eyes closed tightly.) I -

(Her voice wavers and she fights to find words for her feelings.)

I long for company...as a woman.

[ubiquitously]

[Uai employs his tact enough that he doesn't admit to finding that interesting. Also, troubling. It's one thing for him to have two forms, but he has a single consciousness between them. His desires don't change when he becomes a dragon.

It finally clicks with him why she finds the change so alarming.]


In that case, I'll stay. Sorry for asking something so strange. [He pauses, waiting until she's ready to walk. It would be polite to offer his hand, but Uai knows his touch is incredibly dangerous.] On that note. Have you been getting to talk to a number of people in Genessia? I'm sure you've found this place is full of interesting personalities.

[lilacwood]

(Amalthea is embarrassed enough by her outburst. Showing weakness as either a/the Unicorn or as a woman does not set well with her. She might feel divided against herself on other matters, but on this one, her mortal and immortal halves can agree!

She lifts her chin as if to pretend she is not moved one way or another, her slender hands smoothing over the front of her dress.)

They have been kind without reason. I do not know what they want from me.

[ubiquitously]

[When Uai sees her straighten herself, he knows better than to giggle at her words. He holds himself together, remembering to treat her with respect. Even if he doesn't know many Unicorns, he can tell she expects them to be treated well.]

That's why it's called kindness. If they wanted something from you, we would call it manipulation. [He hums softly, then deciding to tempt fate as he adds,] I was originally thinking I would be kind to you, but now I think I'm in it for your company. Is that acceptable?

[lilacwood]

(Unicorns are terribly vain creatures. Being a woman is just...shameful. It doesn't take much to injure her pride these days and, truth be told, she is very lonely.)

One can become the other without warning. (She walks at his side, brow furrowing.) Are you lonely too?

[ubiquitously]

That's true. It's something you'll unfortunately get used to. But kindness with motive isn't always bad. Unless you think it's a crime to want someone to talk to.

[That million dollar question was one he should have seen coming. Uai does his best not to flinch or look distressed. In fact, he gives himself no time to linger on it before answering.] Yeah, sometimes. I had to leave someone very important to me... But it was my choice, so I don't get to complain about it.

[lilacwood]

(If that is so, she is guilty of a crime. But manipulation isn't truly in her nature. She is blunt and if others think she is a mystery, perhaps it is because of what she doesn't say rather than what she does.)

Do I remind you of them? (She doesn't look at him, somehow sensing that the topic is fraught with difficulty. Her ability to sense human empathy is increasing.)

[ubiquitously]

A bit. But don't worry, I know you aren't the same.

[He begins fiddling with his braid like it's a lifeline. In some ways, it is all that connects him to home anymore.]

When you miss someone for long enough, you start seeing pieces of them everywhere. Sometimes the water reminds me of her too, or the flowers, or even the wind. Loneliness makes it hard to think straight.

[Uai shakes his head,] You're different in a lot of ways too. She's pretty clumsy and loud.

[lilacwood]

(She has never thought of herself as like another. The idea stings her pride, but it also soothes her heart. If she is like someone else - even a little bit - she isn't alone.)

Is it only loneliness? (Maidens who are virgins call to her and sing for her. They tell her of grand romances and the lives they wish to have. Men too hunt her, using golden rope to try to trap her. What a fine gift she will make for their lady! Of course she is never caught. They are too slow and too clumsy for her.)

I do not think I could be either of those things.