So as of tomorrow I'll be out of town from the 22nd to the 27th, I'll be attending Calgary Comic Con which is a few provinces over and we'll be travelling all day tomorrow before getting to enjoy the con on Thursday to Sunday and I have a few posts in the queue that will for a short while. Until I return consider this a temporary hiatus and I hope you all have a lovely rest of your week!

. 'Maelle' was safe for now, hit with that oddly nostalgic feeling that felt misplaced. Verso's memories always seemed to grip him by the neck whenever he looked in on Alicia's new life. He could remember picking her up and sitting her on his hip, or settling her on the piano as he played. This time was soothing rather than disconcerting, at least.

He should've left earlier, but the torrential rain that spilled down found him trotting through to find a safe little spot to hide, still caught up in his thoughts. So distracted, he didn't notice the small form darting in next to him at first.

"Ah, hello." Alicia's bright red hair stuck out first, brows lifting. Well. So much for keeping his distance. "Bit late for you to be out wandering."

@hiiddenstar || starter call!

He hasn’t Painted in ages — music was always his passion, but as he grew older and older the focus on it grew more intent, and as his parents tried to pull him more and more back into the family fold the typical adolescent rebellion pushed him more and more towards his own passions.

Now, he’s in his twenties, and he feels as though he’s been disconnected from this side of his family for so long it feels foreign to even consider. Part of him wants to say: why don't you ask Clea? but the other part of him knows perfectly well why, for as much as he loves his elder sister.

And so he swallows that down and just smiles instead. " I can try, " he chuckles. " I haven't touched a Canvas since I was about your age. " The ten years between them is a gulf, true, but he's always been fiercely protective and attentive both, stepping into the role of elder brother with the intent he's ever done anything else in his days.

❝ No more taking excessive risks, okay? I'm not dragging your body back to Lumiere. Emma'd kill me. ❞

He's staring, staring at the flag with the thirty-three emblazoned on it, stark and golden: it flutters in the camp firelight, flowing slowly and delicately despite only the faintest breeze. He watches it like it's an unknown, like it is something so strange that he can't look away.

"You think so?" Sciel asked, her tone unsure. Because that kindness could be both a blessing and a curse. So, does it truly take grace to wield a double-edged sword? With a smile gentle, she turns her reflective look over to Maelle.

"Do you not think it a little... inconvenient?" It made situations unnecessarily complex, for everyone. If they could use only anger or determination, things would probably be over quicker. Everything could be straightforward, easy... She wondered if that kindness of hers – or anyone's – did more harm than good.

Masking the emotions that afflicted him didn't come as easy as it came to Verso. Even with his attempt earlier, he thought it'd fallen relatively flat. Monoco hadn't caught a side-eyeing glance from Verso, so at least there was that. Afterwards, however, he found himself unable to stand being in the company of the humans any longer.

Lune spoke of strategy, wanting to know what she could about the Axons the journals and Verso had spoken of. Sciel had done so similarly, albeit not without glancing his eyes way briefly with a look of pity. Still, she'd done nothing. Verso was trapped with the women, and he could only assume he'd be like that for some time. Monoco had taken that opportunity to slink away toward a more secluded area of the camp.

He cradled Noco's jar in silence. He'd been staring at it initially, though the shame of his inability to protect him made shame want to take him. So, he would lift his head and stare off past the edge of the cliff.