(Untitled)

[carefulwishes]

It's Claire's homecoming. Eden has her assignment: to capture Sylar. ("When the time is right, neutralize him." Neutralize. Eden hates that word - could do more than that word, with just a whisper - but she has her orders

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[_mother_dearest]

As was Lyrae's habit, she was outside practicing her sword skills. Pausing momentarily as she watched Eden walk out, she tilted her head to one side, studying her curiously--though Lyrae said nothing.

[carefulwishes]

Eden strides about the lakeside, hugging herself. When she sees Lyrae, the stride - which was long and fast, a way to walk out her frustration - slows to more of a walk.

Which leads in Lyrae's direction. She manages to move her left hand from its position clutching her right elbow and raise it in a wave - only to bring it back to its former position.

Eden knows a lot about what body-language says. She just doesn't care what hers is saying right now.

[_mother_dearest]

Observing for a moment--Then, Lyrae spoke, her voice as calm and cool as ever, but tinged with a soft, maternal air belying her youthful appearance.

"Are you hurt, Child?"

[carefulwishes]

There's a shrug in response.

"Who doesn't feel like they have the world on their shoulders, some days?" she comments, a bite of something sharp and brittle in her tone. She's ashamed of feeling this way - feeling caring, weak, frustrated, terrified - as useless as she knows being ashamed is.

[_mother_dearest]

With a bitter tone in her voice, Lyrae spoke as one who had born the weight of the world--literally, in her case. She had to stop her son, lest he and others unravel creation.

"I have been there."

[carefulwishes]

"And mournful lean Despair brings me yew to deck my grave," Eden mutters, rubbing a hand through her hair.

Then she laughs softly and utterly without humour.

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae chuckled darkly. Folding her arms firmly under her breasts, she glanced away. There was an end.

"However, one can only bear the world so long before it crushes you beneath its weight--no matter how strong you are."

[carefulwishes]

"Why, golly gee, that's when you turn to friends to help you," Eden baby-voices.

And Eden has NONE OF THAT AHAHAHAHA.

[_mother_dearest]

If looks could kill, Eden was butchered like a hog. Lyrae shifted slightly, snorting derisively, commenting sharply.

"No, that is when you die."

[carefulwishes]

Eden's hostility and most of her thoughts, in fact, are focused inward, so the hostile look from Lyrae surprises her some. What do you mean Eden's not the only one with issues?

"I get that, all right? I was being...funny. Or something." Another shrug, a sharp, frustrated glance at the are around her.

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae scolded her like a parent does when a child misbehaves in public.

"You ought to use humor when appropriate."

[carefulwishes]

"Does gallows humour not exist in your world?" Eden asks, her frustration dampening but irritability still present.

[_mother_dearest]

Somberly, Lyrae snapped a retort.

"No, but we prefer it actually be humorous."

[carefulwishes]

"Yeah, score one for the goddess," Eden replies, irritability dampening slightly because she can acknowledge that it wasn't funny. It was just a defense. Another wall. Eden throws them up without thinking.

[_mother_dearest]

A chortle from Lyrae.

"It will be a few centuries yet before you can match me with word or blade, Child."

[carefulwishes]

Centuries?

"Are you an elf?"

Just checking.