A combination of snow-white hair and a navy scarf is something that would draw Alear's attention in even the thickest of crowds-- after all, she could never forget the visage of those who fought beside her through the most vicious battles of Elyos's war… and even though she knows that the Emblems won't remember her in this world, there's no way she could pass up the chance to get to know them all over again.
Emblem Micaiah is no different. No… Lady Micaiah, she should say. A quick jog is all it takes to catch up to her, Alear's voice ringing out above the commotion of everyone else.
"Oh, excuse me! Lady Micaiah, sorry to disturb you…!" By the time she falls into step with the other woman, there's a fondness and familiarity that settles into Alear's gaze; something she can't help but to show, even as she bows her head slightly in greeting. "I apologize for the sudden shouts! I just, uh…. I've heard some stories about you, and I wanted to introduce myself. I believe we're also heading out on the same expedition team, if I'm not mistaken!"
"I'm Alear, of Elyos. If there's anything I can help you with, please let me know…!" To repay all of the times she'd been saved before, but also to form a new bond.
All of the seasickness that has managed to evade Micaiah for the first half of the voyage has at last descended to punish her hubris. She finds herself waddling above-deck at a random hour of the day in as steady of a posture as she could, gaze fixed on the horizon to anchor her sense of balance which has begun to lurch with the ship itself. For all the reading and studying she did on maritime travel prior to boarding, it seems that nothing can prepare one for raw immersion itself. An immense admiration for full-time seafarers grows exponentially in her with every swing of the keel, and she makes a mental note to express it personally the next time she visits Daein's mariner's guild at Oribes Bay. Seriously, how on earth did humanity endure this for hundreds of years, and likely hundreds more to come?
Such aimless thoughts course through her head—anything to distract her from the nausea rushing her in waves—when a burst of blue and red enters her vision along with an upbeat friendly voice. The unexpected greeting jolts her out of her stupor and leaves naught but one immediate thought at the forefront of her dazed mind:
"Oh, wow. Your hair is... incredible."
The realization that her musings have audibly slipped from her tongue arrives a beat too late. A horrified gasp quickly follows, "O-Oh my goodness, I sincerely apologize for my rudeness! I do not know what came over me. I assure you that I did not mean any offense, Miss Alear."
The burning embarrassment of the situation shocks some of the seasickness out of her, brain fog clearing just enough to properly dissect the words of the woman before her.
Elyos. She has vaguely heard of the land before, and has since made the connection between it and the tales of Emblems and rings thanks to the few other Elyosians she's interacted with—that would explain the similar recognition of her by Alear. She bows her head to mirror the other (with no small amount of regret as her stomach protests) alongside a warm smile of her own.
"Ah! You hail from Elyos. There is still much for me to learn about your homeland, but I am truly honored to be known among your people—and a little flustered, haha!"
"And indeed, I do recall your name next to mine in the team roster. I look forward to working with you and getting to know you better! And likewise, I would be happy to give my support in any way you may need."
Micaiah's gaze darts around before she leans farther in and whispers, a hint of bashfulness sparkling in her eyes.
"And, um, about my comment earlier... I really do admire your hair, Miss Alear. I'd like to try dyeing mine similarly some day, but instead of being known as the Silver-Haired Maiden, I might become something like... the Bisexual-Haired Maiden instead. That sure would be interesting..."
