[seir]

This place was unsettling. The people were kind enough - inviting the Alteronians into their home, offering food and drink, welcoming them to be merry like old friends. The fact they had invaded to raid a seemingly abandoned settlement was either forgotten or overlooked. Perhaps the fermented fruit had something to do with the fact. They were kind - perhaps that was why they were unsettled. They sat on the perimeter, a red eyed phantom on the outskirts looking in. An untouched cup rested innocently beside them, a farce of 'participation'. A bonfire had been built up and it flamed high into the sky, casting long shadows against the ground of the dancing Geminites. They remained out of reach, simply watching. The rest of their group had scattered, perhaps raiding as they had intended when they first arrived, perhaps partaking in the bounty readily offered. They didn’t know. Another reason to be unsettled - left alone, surrounded by strangers, in an unfamiliar land with little to no instructions. A scent drifts across the wind, familiar enough to make their bones ache, and their head snaps around to stare off into the foggy grasslands - They are not here. A deep breathe, but the scent is gone again. Reason number three to be unsettled. And again, a little sadder- They are not here.

[Harriette]

Harriette thought she would be more excited once the big party came around. The anticipation had her vibrating, her mind racing with the images of what it might be like, who she might meet, what might happen. It was all very new to her, all very fresh and uplifting.

However, now that the time had come, the young girl couldn’t say she was feeling those same excited vibrations within her body. She couldn’t explain what it was, or why the excitement had passed. Her child-like wonder had vanished, and instead, it was replaced with a regular curiosity. Nothing out of the ordinary from a regular day in Gemini.

The masked girl wandered toward the bonfire after much deliberation, smiling and nodding at visitors and fellow members of Gemini, but not really stopping to chat with anyone. Those who knew her would understand – sometimes she was just too lost in her own mind to stop and chat. Others might find it rude, especially since she was to be hosting visitors. She couldn’t seem to care right now, as she searched her mind for reasons as to why she was feeling such a diluted sensation amongst all of the partying and good vibes.

She would be lying if she said it wasn't partially because of certain recent circumstances... Her heart had still been aching lately, had still been giving her grief some days. But she did well to shove those feelings aside - if she could pretend for months that her own brothers weren't dead, then she could pretend for a night that she wasn't sad about that fact. Or at least, that she wasn't currently feeling like crumbling in on herself and having a complete meltdown.

No, she could hold it together... This was neither the time nor the place for her emotions to overtake her. She was a big girl now, she had to pull it together. She had to hold her own. She glanced into the shadows and watched Tauro and Kariya run, swallowed by the darkness.

Her heart shivered.

Closing her eyes, she pushed it further, further. She wasn't the only one missing them. Everyone missed them. She needed to get it together. She just couldn't help but wish mother or father or even Archer were here right this moment, to hold her and remind her it was going to be OK. She just needed to hear those reminders. She needed to get the thoughts out of her head, the words spoken to her, the stories retold. The blocked memories that were fighting their way back up needed to be chased back into the depths of her mind, buried far beneath the purple and pink flowers she planted in her mind's garden.

She turned her attention back to the present, shaking the dark thoughts from her mind, opening her eyes again to look around her. People were mingling, dancing, drinking. She hadn’t dabbled in the faerie juice as of yet, and wasn’t sure if she ever would. She wasn’t sure that her mind needed the help in conjuring up fantasies and daydreams. So she kept wandering, past all the people, away from the buzz, feeling the warmth of the bonfire fading slowly as she walked further and further away.

The world around them was darkening, and she stared at starless night sky, wondering if Gemini looked like a star right now with such a bright bonfire burning. What did they look like from a star’s point of view?

Pausing, she turned to look back at the bonfire, and watched briefly as people zigzagged around the base of the flames, enjoying themselves, laughing, smiling. Harriette smiled back, a genuine, soft smile. She loved watching her peers having a good time. She loved seeing people being happy – it made her heart feel whole.

As she turned her head, she caught a shadow in the distance. A figure, sitting, by themselves. She blinked a couple times, trying to decide if she felt like socializing. She took a breath, then decided to walk toward the figure.

Harriette drew nearer, and the figure began to take shape. They carried a scent she was beginning to recognize, and realized this wolf was from Alteron. They had a brown and black pelt and pointed ears. Their eyes were shockingly red, and Harriette couldn’t help but think of her own family’s distinctly red eyes. Eyes that had become so familiar and comforting.

She stopped once she was a few body lengths away from the Alteronian, keeping her distance since it seemed as though this particular visitor was wanting to stay away from the parting that was taking place a ways away from them. Tilting her head slightly, she spoke. “Not much of a dancer?” She asked, her voice soft and holding a slight tone of humor, thought part of her was seriously asking if maybe the stranger didn’t like to dance.

“I’m Harriette. I’m an Acolyte here in Gemini. You smell of Alteron. You’re visiting here?” Her eyes remained on the stranger, a softness to her gaze as she took in the stranger’s features and their bold fur patterns. They (he?) was much larger than Harriette, but she was used to feeling quite dainty around most others. She wasn’t afraid. She felt no need to be afraid of a willing visitor.

“What’s your name?” She asked blinking a couple more times, trying to rid the sadness from her eyes.

A E S T H E T I C