[hider=Eve and Arton's Tea Talk] [center] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230205/f69dd2f75b7475275d406e055ff4e99c.png[/img] [color=#d3d3d3][b][h1]Eve “Grayscale”[/h1][/b][/color] [/center][hr] Arton lit up a little as she thanked him and took the cup of tea into her hands [color=537DAE]“You’re welcome!”[/color] He replied as he took a seat across from the Pseudolon, the chair groaning from the weight of the swordsman. There was a heaviness in his otherwise bright, blue eyes that conflicted with the smile he eagerly bore [color=537DAE]”I’m glad to hear it. I’d be mortified if I gave you a reason to dislike me already.”[/color] Once more he chuckled as he picked up the tea cup for another sip and gingerly took a sip. That’s when he noticed Eve looking at him…though ‘examining’ was perhaps a better word. He didn’t really mind since he always believed eye contact was important during a conversation…at least when you were talking. A faint blush flashed on his cheeks as she quickly shifted her attention, trying to hide the fact he had noticed. Luckily the conversation kicked up again [color=537DAE]”That’s right! We’ll push them all out!”[/color] He passionately said standing up with the tea in his hand, a small amount spilling over the edge. Embarrassment took hold of him as he sat back down, taking a rag hanging on his belt to clean the tea [color=537DAE]“Sorry.”[/color] His misery was quickly thrown away by Eve’s question, a look of hesitation in his eyes. It was not exactly a secret he intentionally kept but not something he advertised either. Arton found it was easier to tell the truth regarding his homeland when asked because lying had brought more attention in the past [color=537DAE]”It has a different kind of beauty. I grew up in the countryside of Skael where my father taught me smithing and how to survive. Nothing was quite as beautiful waking up early in the morning with fresh snow on the ground, the icy wind howling before the warmth of the forge overtook it….Sorry, I’m starting to ramble.”[/color] He anxiously rubbing the back of his neck as he sat back into the chair. --- Upon Arton's passionate agreement, Eve couldn't help but curl a rather eager smile. She might not have expressed her enthusiasm as outwardly as he did, but it was there nonetheless, in spades even. In fact, the white-haired black mage was more partial to [i]exterminating[/i] the tyrants rather than simply pushing them out, after all, one solution had more... permanence than the other. Ibrosians shall not suffer the Valheimrs to live. However, it might be a case of pedantism as Arton had no qualms with lethally incapacitating those soldiers back in Atsu. The sword-wielding Sollan's immediate reaction to the topic of his homeland instilled a burgeoning sense of camaraderie in Eve; it appeared that he wasn't fond of Skael, just like herself with Valheim, but why? [color=d3d3d3][b]"..."[/b][/color] The draconic chimera felt a bit guilty at bringing the matter up, not to mention hypocritical, but... if these people were going to be her comrades for Valheim's downfall, then maybe it's fine, besides, she had already intruded upon Izayoi's past, what's one more? [color=d3d3d3][b]"No, don't be, please, go on."[/b][/color] And in exchange... [color=d3d3d3][b]"And should you wish to ask about mine, I won't mind."[/b][/color] After all, twas' only fair. --- It was comforting to see the previously stoic dragoness crack a smile and through it he could feel their bond strengthening. Arton, however, was forced to be thinking several steps ahead if they were going to keep talking about their past. His twisted history that he’d developed over the years wouldn’t hold up with more permanent companions. He would just need to hide behind the truth [color=537DAE]“Alright, well I guess I can share a bit more…”[/color] Arton said with some reservation. [color=537DAE]”My father was pretty strict with me…heh, I’m not sure he expected to have to look after a child at all. I might have hated him if I wasn’t even harder on myself. He trained me how to fight and survive out in the wilds on my own.”[/color] He sat back with a fond smile [color=537DAE]“There was a time he left me in the middle of the woods with nothing but a sharp knife. I think it was days before I made it back home.”[/color] There was no resentment in the retelling of this story. Arton leaned forwards again, crossing his arms and resting them onto the table as he looked directly into Eve’s eyes [color=537DAE]”Do you…um, remember anything before Valheim did this to you?”[/color] --- As Eve listened to Arton sharing more of his past, she couldn't help but feel a little... envious. Whereas most others would think that the swordsman's father was being an abusive neglectful prick, treating his own child as if expecting he could survive through anything, all the chimera could see was how [i]free[/i] Arton was, he could venture outside whenever he wanted, in fact, he was encouraged to do so. The sheer contrast made Eve pause as she turned her gaze down at her own reflection on the tea cup. Unlike the Skaeller, Eve didn't step on fresh soil or even see the sun until after that fateful day, hell, for most of her time in that accursed facility, she was in either her secured cell, experimentation chambers, or most abhorred of all, a stasis pod whenever those heartless bastards didn't even allow her to be conscious. [color=d3d3d3][b]"..."[/b][/color] The white-haired girl became eerily silent for a moment, entranced by her own past, up until Arton broke them as he reestablished eye contact, [color=d3d3d3][b]"Ah, well..."[/b][/color] It was a bit difficult to explain, but fortunately, this wasn't her first time sharing the unusual circumstances of her past, [color=d3d3d3][b]"No, less due to a fault in my memory and more so the fact that I didn't exist before."[/b][/color] She chuckled dryly, [color=d3d3d3][b]"I was made, not born, Valheim wanted a living weapon of mass destruction, and they figured mutating a fetus with Bahamut's essence was the way to go about it."[/b][/color] Eve murmured, [color=d3d3d3][b]"...well, they succeeded, but the only thing I'll destroy is my own creator, both for making me and murdering the only person in that goddessforsaken facility who ever cared about me."[/b][/color] She said through clenched teeth, but there was righteous ambition in her words amidst all the vengeful hatred, [color=d3d3d3][b]"Can I count on you to stand by my side as we rid the world of both Valheim and the Blight, Arton?"[/b][/color] --- Arton tilted his head in confusion at her remark about not existing beforehand, his eyes widening as she began to explain. His face remained stoic as he listened but his fingers were gradually digging into the wood of the table. She didn’t have to elaborate further for him to understand that her creators were unlikely to be nurturing parents. Arton never once took his eyes off Eve as she talked, wanting to let her know his full attention was on her. [color=537DAE]”For as long as Valheim and the Blight remain a threat, I’ll be right beside you. I promise.”[/color] He spoke without hesitation but was sincere with his words. It was a commitment some might need time to consider but for Arton there was no need. Whatever danger or obstacle came their way, Arton would make sure to shield Eve from the worst of it. Long ago he made a similar promise to protect Furi from all evil, but this time only death would prevent him from fulfilling it. He began tapping on the table, still wrapping his head around the fact Eve had been grown in a lab [color=537DAE]”Ya know, I’m happy Valheim created you.”[/color] Arton shifted awkwardly in his chair, not sure if what he just said was the wrong thing to say [color=537DAE]”Now that we got a chance to talk…I couldn’t imagine never meeting you.”[/color] He quickly lifted his tea cup and took a long sip before he could say anything else strange. Despite their differences, Arton felt a sense of camaraderie he had yet to fully experience with the rest of the party. Izayoi and Galahad were more like mentors, he had avoided Eliane for most of the trip, and the other newcomers he had yet to get to know. --- Eve's brows sharpened while her lips curled an approving smirk as Arton made his declaration. His vow was very welcomed, she had traveled with all manner of adventurers over the years since she escaped captivity, but none really had any aspirations of ending the two global threats, which she understood why, toppling a mighty empire or neutralizing a pandemic was beyond the scope of most. Fortunately, finally, after all these years, she found like-minded comrades brave - or foolish - enough to embark upon this suicide mission. Indeed, the only way this journey would end is by them succeeding or die trying. Though her expression shifted into a difficult smile when the swordsman admits being happy at her being made. Eve saw her own existence as a mistake, an abomination that shouldn't have ever manifested, the result of the pure hubris of people wondering only whether they could, yet never whether they should. [color=d3d3d3][b]"Perhaps, we could've met under different circumstances, with me being a fellow Sollan instead of... whatever I currently am."[/b][/color] However, the events of the past had led to this moment, it had already happened, she should focus on the future instead of what could've been, together, with everyone, [color=d3d3d3][b]"Likewise, Arton."[/b][/color] With that, Eve too raised the cup to her lips, enjoying the beverage. [/hider]