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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?

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[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.

[ubiquitously]

Right? I can't imagine you being either of those either. It's just me being lonely.

[He feels a bit attacked when she questions if it's "only loneliness." If she means feelings that cause one not to think straight, then Uai should be an expert. Since she asked he does feel he should answer, but it's a train of thought he treads carefully.]

A lot of strong emotions can cause someone not to think straight. Loneliness, anger, sadness... Even happiness and love. Loneliness and love are probably the ones that I know the most about.

[Uai taps his own cheek thoughtfully,] But if you really were alone as a Unicorn, do you feel those emotions very strongly? I imagine it's hard to feel anger when you're alone? And you don't need the same type of love as a human?

[lilacwood]

(Should she apologize? How can she amend her words when she feels she has done nothing wrong? While her human body is young, her mind is old. So old, in fact, that it borders on ancient.)

Unicorns can love, but I never did. I have not mated either or brought a foal into the world. We do as our natures dictate. If I need to eat, I eat; if I need to sleep, I sleep. I did not think about finding others of my kind until I heard a man claiming there were no more.

He spoke to his companion, saying... (She pitches her voice to mimic the conversation she had overheard.) “Why did they go away, do you think? If there ever were such things."

"Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?"

"No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns.”

[ubiquitously]

Hmm... Seems like a pretty simple way to live. I'm sure there are many who would envy that kind of lifestyle.

[He's reminded of his mortal life, but tries not to get caught in those memories. Kami like himself were forgotten too, and had only recently been remembered. Likewise, he had grown up wondering what a 'good time' for Kami would be like.]

In my first home, Unicorns are symbols of purity. It's a sin to so much as look at one if you aren't pure of heart. So I suppose, what you're saying does line up with that. If you only do what you need to, then in theory, you never overindulge and you never sin.

Are you going to continue being pure as a human? [He should really learn to filter his awkward questions.]

[lilacwood]

Perhaps. (Her life had been simple and uncomplicated. It had never occurred to her to sin. She was as a child, watching the life around her come into the world, live, love and die. Now she is part of that cycle and it still doesn't occur to her to sin.)

I see no reason to overindulge; it will only hurt me in the end. (His question unnerves her. On one hand, of course, but on the other, why is that now a choice? Why can humans choose their natures so easily? How can anything they do or say ever be trusted?)

I am who I am.

[ubiquitously]

And I'm certainly not suggesting you change that. Whoever you are now is someone I'm happy to have met.

[He looks ahead, noting that they're reaching the edge of the forest. Fortunately, his apartment borders the forest: It's hard to tell if the structures were built around nature, or if the trees reclaimed this space.

Uai points ahead, but continues the current conversation.] I pray you don't lose yourself, regardless. As someone else who loses their preferred form, I sympathize. If you need anything to feel like yourself, you can let me know. [Smiling at his selfish and bad joke, he adds:] As long as it doesn't involve leaving you alone forever.