#&. sofia

The sea is as much a friend to her now as it has always been. The waves rush against her skin as she relaxes comfortably in something that is called a ‘bathing suit’, content to bask in the sunlight. The momentary peace of her soul is soon cut short, however, by a familiar and yet unwelcomed presence upon the sand. While they had once been her jailers, in this plane, the furies cannot touch her, a fact Leyha takes vicious satisfaction in as her gaze turns to the woman. Something dark and dangerous glints in her eyes, a desire for retribution, to see someone else suffer for what was inflicted upon her. A cruel smile forms against the manticore’s lips as she perches against a large rock, her arms crossing against her chest. “You’re rather far away from home, aren’t you, fury?” ( @sofiamcrales​ )

Elene is not one to put herself into the troubles of the world. It is not her place, and the rift has learnt the lesson all too well what it means to be caught in the center of conflict. But at her core, she still has a tender heart, and cannot stand to witness the suffering of others while knowing she can do something to change it. Hestia granted her the gift of healing, and to ignore that would be both a betrayal to the goddess and to herself. It is what compels her to act, rather than turn away, at the sight of the injured woman. A fury. A real one, this time, not like the handmaids that sought to torment her so long ago. Ordinarily the species fills Elene with some level of discomfort, but it is easy to see that this one is in distress, and greatly wounded. Why has she not returned to the Underworld yet? “What’s become of you?” she calls out to woman, cautious but concerned. ( @sofiamcrales​ )

“Thank you,” she says quietly, as the other fury approaches the balcony she’s leaning against. It feels like it’s been forever since the two have seen each other more than just in passing, moving in and out of each other’s lives like ships in the night, and Ophelia misses the closeness they had. “For allowing Rhea to stay, without complaint. I know I did not ask before I brought her here, but circumstances were desperate.” A number of people wanted her dead, perhaps still do, and she needed a place to lie low. With the protection of two furies around, their apartment seemed like the best option. “Things haven’t been easy, recently. And perhaps having a rift around leaves us more in the center of it than we would be otherwise. I agreed to that, but you didn’t.” Yet she never made an issue of the fact, like she would’ve had right to. Like Ophelia might have, had situations been reversed. “I miss you, Sofia.” ( @sofiamcrales​ )

@sofiamcrales​​

The pain leaves eventually, just the same as before, and then Ophelia understands that it is done. She had chosen to wait out the storm and the subsequent agony that wracked her body in her apartment, while Rhea left to accomplish her goal. The relief is as instant as the onset, and in the aftermath, there is only silence. Her magic is gone, the gifts Megaera had given her in the name of protecting this world, now just a human woman once more. And the feeling is bittersweet, with the knowledge of what cost it took to achieve. When Sofia returns it is late, and though Ophelia knows her intentions were much aligned with those who wished for this outcome, she does not appear to be any happier in the result. “It appears we are in need of a new job.” Her smile is soft, but pained, incapable of putting any mirth in her attempt at levity. So instead, Ophelia reaches out, pulling Sofia into a hug, holding the other former fury close. “I am glad you’re safe.” ( @sofiamcrales )

Ophelia must admit, she is incredibly glad to not be trapped here alone. Her entire body aches in phantom pain, no physical injuries but hurting all the same, ghosts from a past she thought she left long behind. She braces herself against a counter, pain creased in her brow as she allows her head to hang low for just one moment, before forcing her spine straight. Whatever is happening, even if it feels as if she is one large bruise, she must be strong. They all must be. The furies congregate close together, and Ophelia turns her attention towards the eldest of the three. “I don’t know what is happening,” she admits, pained not only physically but also in her pride, as she grits her teeth. “How is this possible? I cannot leave.” The Underworld is cut off, out of reach, and she cannot flee to escape whatever this is. She looks to Sela, almost like a child looking to their mother, for an answer, for a solution.

“So, the second bedroom is the door on the left. It’s got a nice view of the center of town, just be careful not to let Dis out on the balcony. It’s too high and he’s very curious, I worry what might could happen.” It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Ophelia is vibrating with excitement at the arrival of another fury to this city. The fact that it’s Sofia in particular is just the cherry on top. The first fury that Ophelia ever trained, a strong bond had formed between the pair that remains unbreakable to this day. So much so, she didn’t even hesitate to offer up the spare room in her apartment for the other woman to stay in. To have her so close reminds her of fonder times, several of them in the Underworld at once, gatherings that felt so much like a family it left a deep feeling of longing in her gut when the moment was over. But the more of them that arrive in Corinth Bay, the closer Ophelia is to having it again. “It’s good to see you, Sofia.” An understatement, to be sure.