(Untitled)

[joiningyousoon]

Maya steps through the door. Her stutter-step is a dead giveaway that she didn't intend to be here; so is the state of her uniform. She wears uniform trousers and a black fitted tank top, one that looks more like it's made of leather than cloth. The name 'ANTARES' is spelled out in small, discreet letters on one side; her dog tags hang loose.

Comments

[wheatencrown]

Demeter is still outside just enjoying the night air and watches Maya quietly. She sends a wave of warmth and love towards the woman on the Summer air.

[joiningyousoon]

The breeze smells like what Maya has always imagined summers in the West would be like; thick and warm and light, like flowers and fruit. It wraps around her, ruffles her hair.

She breathes deep.

[wheatencrown]

Her steps are quiet due to bare feet but Demeter makes them loud enough to hear as she approaches and with her the smells grow stronger.

[joiningyousoon]

Maya looks up at the stairs. It's a beautiful night; it's about as far from the one she left as it comes.

(Standing on the deck of the Konstantinov, watching your breath freeze; listening to the distant low thuds of explosions in the ravaged city below and feeling the cold slowly sap the sensation from your hands, and thinking about how easy it would be to sit up here and not come down.)

She doesn't turn around.

[wheatencrown]

Demeter fears this woman will not welcome a stranger's hug so she adds a mother's love and warmth to the Summer air.

[joiningyousoon]

Maya shifts her weight. The water ripples outward around her.

"Can I help you?" she asks, dully, of the person with the quiet footsteps.

It isn't impolite or abrupt. It just is.

[wheatencrown]

"I was going to ask you the same thing. I'm Demeter."

Her voice is low and warm, but she has a veil on her divinity. She wishes to comfort the woman not scare her.

[joiningyousoon]

She almost laughs a tight, high laugh at the question; it lodges somewhere in her chest instead.

"Not unless you can bring back the dead," Maya says, and 'dead' threatens to stick in her throat, but she forces it out. "I'm Maya."

[wheatencrown]

"No, I can't."

Maya's tight and pained body language shows Demeter Maya's pain and she gives a small nod,

"Then I'll leave you to your grief."

She starts to add more but realizes how much she's intruding, her footsteps are soft as she goes but the warm wind stays.