Empatheias Inbox!

[magicpanchira]

[ No, literally. It's a box. It looks kind of messy, though....

A box in which birds can drop messages off to the magician in question.

Do it. ]

Comments

December 13 [action]

[spiritedafey]

[It's been a rough couple of days, and so Maya has done her best to avoid seeing anyone in the house -- even Charley. Now that everything is said and done and over, she's finally mustered up the courage to face at least one of her fellow housemates. It's late, and the house itself is dark save for the dim light shining in Maya's room. She's pretty sure that Nick is already asleep, but she tiptoes just in case.

Maya raises a hand to knock on Trucy's door but hesitates, still unsure if she was ready. What is she supposed to say? She doesn't even know. Still, her knuckles tap gently on the door anyways.]

Trucy, are you awake?

[magicpanchira]

[ Trucy has noticed how uncharacteristically quiet Maya's been, but she hasn't wanted to pressure the poor woman into telling her what's wrong. So instead she's offered quiet smiles and offerings of cookies and milk outside her bedroom door instead. She knows that when the time is right, she'll talk about whatever's on her mind.

When she hears the quiet knock, she blinks and looks up from the little black book of tricks she's inherited and at the door. ]

Yep! Come on in, Maya!

[spiritedafey]

[The door opens a crack while Maya falters a bit, unsure of herself, but she finally pushes it open after taking as deep a breath as she could to calm her nerves. The moment she sees Trucy though, she can't help but smile. So she steps inside and quietly closes the door behind her.]

I hope I'm not bothering you.

[She walks across the room and takes a seat at the edge of Trucy's bed, her fingers already fidgeting with her crystal.]

[magicpanchira]

[ Trucy smiles brightly and closes the book, placing it down on her nightstand and shifting to get out from under the covers so she can properly sit down next to Maya. ]

You never bother me! What's up?

[ She sees that, Maya, that little nervous tic. She's not going to point it out, though... this isn't court, after all. ]

[spiritedafey]

I, um... [Where to begin? She's usually not this bad at talking to people, so why was this so difficult!? It's getting frustrating.] I wanted to apologize for how I've been acting lately.

[She exhales the breath that she didn't know she was holding, relieved that she's finally been able to say it.]

[magicpanchira]

[ Trucy tips her head slightly. It's true, Maya's been more snappy and irritable lately, and quiet to boot, but she's certainly not expecting an apology. ]

What? Oh, don't worry about it so much, Maya! It's alright, but... are you alright?

[spiritedafey]

But I do worry!

[She raises her voice a little bit louder there, not to yell at Trucy but to try and hold back whatever tears might be coming, but Maya immediately quiets down after.]

S-Sorry. I'm... okay now. I've said a lot of awful things to a lot of people, and... I hope that none of it was directed at you.

[Maya can barely remember half of the things she's said or done to people. The only basis for this is others' reactions, and she knows that she's snapped at both Phoenix and Trucy more times than she'd like to admit.]

[magicpanchira]

You shouldn't, silly!

[ She shakes her head, and then throws her arms around Maya in a big hug, smiling gently. ]

It wasn't! Besides, even it if was? You know I don't take offense to that kind of stuff!

[ Trucy's skin is so thick to insults at this point, it just rolls off of her. ]

[spiritedafey]

[She's a little taken-aback by the hug -- there's a brief moment where Maya tenses up before she finally allows herself to relax, wrapping her arms around Trucy as well. Guess it's time Maya tells her the truth.]

I know, you're a lot stronger than I am that's for sure!

[She gives Trucy a tight squeeze before letting go. Maya brushes a piece of hair away from the magician's face and rests a hand on her shoulder.]

I wasn't myself for a long time, and I kept doing and saying, even feeling things I don't really remember.

[magicpanchira]

[ Beaming, she rests her head on Maya's shoulder, glad for the affection. She's missed this from Maya, after all. ]

Nah, you're definitely the strongest person I know!

[ She gives Maya a gentle squeeze in return and gently allows her her freedom, silencing herself for a moment so she can speak. ]

How come...? Is it because of the effects here in Verens?

[spiritedafey]

[Maya allows Trucy this one time to win -- were she to argue that Trucy is a lot stronger than she thinks, they'd be there until the sun came up. So instead, she nods faintly, partly unsure of her answer.]

Kind of. I went on a task board mission with Rei and Sora, and I took the Enchantress' amulet. They said that's what was making me act weird. It was bringing out all of these negative emotions...

[magicpanchira]

[ She's glad Maya is agreeing with her for once! She listens patiently, humming softly. It makes sense now, at least.

She's going to have to corner Sora about this one later. ]

The Enchantress... I've never heard of her. I'm sorry I didn't notice sooner or help you get better... did you get rid of the amulet?

[spiritedafey]

There's nothing to be sorry about, Trucy. I'm the one who's sorry.

[A finger reaches up and gently brushes through her brown hair.]

And Rei... did manage to at one point. Not after I kicked both their butts though!

[A laugh escapes with a breath. That last part is a total lie -- they kicked her's instead.]

[magicpanchira]

Still, I should have noticed and I should have helped them!

[ She does feel guilty, though. She should have been paying more attention... ]

I'm glad they helped, though... I'm just so sorry I wasn't able to detect it, Maya...

[spiritedafey]

Stop apologizing! You didn't do anything wrong, Trucy.

Actually... [The way her crystal catches the light makes it look like it's glowing a bright red -- or maybe it is.] You and Nick made me feel more like myself than anyone else. I owe it to you both for keeping me... me.

[magicpanchira]

Still, I should have noticed! What kind of crappy friend am I that I didn't even take the time to look into it?

[ She really hadn't wanted to prod or pry, though. Not everyone likes that, she herself hates it when she's in a mood and people bother her to see what's wrong...

She blinks, peering at the crystal for a moment, before back up to Maya instead. ] R-really? Well, we love you, Maya... you're family, and I'm just so glad that you're okay! And that you're here, too... I dunno what I'd do without you here!

[spiritedafey]

[She shakes her head vigorously.]

I didn't want you to get caught up in any of this. I wasn't sure what might have come out of it, and I wanted to keep you safe. [A laugh.] I'm sure you and Nick would manage! He's more resourceful than I joke about him being.

[magicpanchira]

[ Phoenix can be frighteningly resourceful. She won't mention that, though -- Maya hadn't been around during those dark days, and Trucy's glad for that. She hadn't had to see the more cynical side of her father. ]

But Maya, he wasn't here before. You were. You took care of me when daddy couldn't... and you still are!

[spiritedafey]

I haven't been as much as I would have liked to. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you lately, Trucy.

[Maya hopes that there isn't much that she's missed... She breathes a laugh as she remembers all of the hi-jinx that they got up to before Nick came around in Verens, and before she left and then returned again. Even still, eight whole years later, Trucy still somehow manages to remind Maya of her younger self, and keeps her from growing old and senile like her dad..]

We did have some good times though, didn't we?

[magicpanchira]

Don't be silly! You're always here for me, and I know it. Besides, you had a lot on your plate!

[ She'll never let Maya get senile like Apollo and her dad. She grins at the older woman, glad to see her in somewhat brighter spirits.... no pun intended there, of course. ]

We sure did! And we're bound to have a ton more!

[spiritedafey]

I don't know if I ever got to properly thank you, Trucy.

[A warm gust in the room billows the curtains hanging against the window.]

For allowing me a place to stay. It hasn't been long for you, but it's been eight years for me, so I don't really remember if I've ever told you this.