#rcbelhearted

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“Hey Briar!” Fiona called as she trotted up to the taller Huntress. She fell into step beside her on the sidewalk as Briar started walking, away from the bar she’d just finished a show in. It had been awhile, since she’d had a chance to stop by one of Briar’s shows, but she found herself glad she’d had a chance to listen.

Even if it was just music, Fiona found Briar’s voice made everything seem a little … brighter. The stars shining above them, partially blocked by the floating city looming overhead, weren’t so distant; the crumbling, grimy city around them wasn’t so forlorn anymore. It was a little easier to call this place home, and a little easier to remember why she fought so hard for it- for the people in it.

“I got to catch some of your show tonight.” One ear flicked as she rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry it’s been awhile since I’ve dropped by. Things have been a little hectic, with Robyn’s campaign, and all the Grimm that have been slipping through the wall.” 

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Busy streets allow the Briar solace, and the company of a colleague. Always difficult to trade the rush of the stage for a cold, dark, lonely night, but when the spotlight fades, and no one offers her a drink or a hand or a story, or even another glance, then why should a starlet trying to shine waste time wallowing in a solo seat.

Not when the whole city is home, with plenty of other guests… or audiences. Whichever suited best.

She argues not even a little bit as the woman calls out finds a place at her side. The interest of tonight lay outside of the building, apparently. The click of heels slows to a more leisurely pace, and darkened lips offer a sweet smile.

“Fiona, darling!”

A wolf and a sheep in comfortable, pleasant stroll between shadowed, filthy alleys? The poets would have a field day!

“Oh, please!” Briar cries, not the least bit offended, tail rather wagging for any attention at all, “You have important work to be doing! And considering, I’m flattered you would spend your precious downtime coming to see me. I hope it helped you forget those stressors for awhile. …The grimm numbers around here have at least held steady for a week or so. and I hear more people talking about Robyn every day. Consider your hard work paying off, too!”

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Fiona laughs, Briar’s excitement lighting a small, warm spark in her chest, and the sound of her laughter rings through the street, bright and clear even in the dreary streets of Mantle.

“I would hope all that work is paying off,” she says. She could feel the ache of exhaustion all the way down to her bones, crying for any sort of rest at all. She would rest tonight, some, but not enough, never enough to wake refreshed and ready to take on the next day’s load.

Fiona could put on a smile, when she needed to, but that smile sat just as heavy on her face as the exhaustion on her limbs. She could feel her hope, her determination slipping through her fingers, each day chipping at the steel she’d tried to forge of herself.

Moments like these put a spring back into her step, even if only for a few hours.