Everything seemed to be going according to plan. The knot in the pit of Alena’s stomach was much more relaxed now, and she couldn’t help but mentally pat herself on the back. Obviously this was the right thing to do; Hayley was a nice girl but small, lost. It reminded Alena a bit of a kitten, which was no doubt what kicked up the worrying instincts in her. It was no trouble to add another to their little group though, at least Devi didn’t seem to mind. Speaking of the other demigoddess, Alena tilted her head as Devi addressed her to show she was listening, only to blink.

“Ah, Kenzie? She is my half sister – from the same mother,” Alena paused here meaningfully, tilting her head back to rest against the wall. “She ... takes after her far more. I mean, she is a model here in America, that should be obvious. But she sought out me and my father a few years ago on hearing there was another daughter of Aphrodite.” A small laugh escaped Alena’s throat and she glanced down at Devi once more, one corner of her lips twitching up in a smile.

“I think she came to see the competition, but you can imagine I was not what she was expecting. She went from aggression to ... mother hen is the phrase? She was even more excited than me that I had to come to Riverswell, as she had, and helped me with my English. Mostly since she doesn’t know Russian.” Another laugh, this time warmer with affection tinting the noise. “V gostyakh khorosho, a doma luchshe – I do not mind the learning, but I miss my home. Ah, sorry, I am getting off track!” Alena’s fingers around the other woman’s twitched, tightening briefly before her free hand rose to muss up the red hair resting at the back of her neck as she rubbed her fingerpads against it. So much for keeping it neat, that lasted for all of twenty minutes. She should’ve done it up rather than leaving it free flowing.

“Enough of my family, what about you, Devi-” The demigoddess was cut off from her admittedly quickly rambling thoughts as Hayley once more emerged, this time seeking advice of her own hair. Alena immediately brightened, and finally her fingers slipped from Devi’s as she pushed from the wall and turned to Hayley more fully.

“You are looking very cute, Hayley! Hair? You should do a bun, it will look good with the short dress! Oh, but not too tight – I have been informed that leaving it to look slightly messy is what is ‘in’. Maybe bangs too, to frame the face yes?”