Lady Seraphina — Roleplayer Guild

Sapphire Rode and Demetra Rode - The Gymnasium

Sapphire was grateful that Gren was civil. Not his opinion of her really concerned her that much but Demetra was probably in enough of a state from her semblance without having to process a fight between Sapphire and her teammate. Gren was also clearly uncomfortable around her family as the moment he had something else to grab his attention he excused himself rather quickly.

"You make him nervous." Demetra said from atop Sapphire's shoulders her gaze (unseen by her sister) very far away. It was almost easier in such a large crowd. The emotions of everyone swirled around her like a great river trying to sweep her up in the current. To her this was preferable to one on one. She could latch onto a single person or single emotion and ride it like a wave through everything else, concentrating on that one aspect helped her push everything else out, helped her keep a hold of what was hers and what wasn't. When it was just her and someone else it was like standing under a waterfall, everything so cold, clear and unavoidable. Here in the mists she held only impressions, excitement, anticipation, some anxiety and an undercurrent of despair. But it all floated free, it wasn't tied to a person or event and so Demetra had an easier time ignoring it.

"Gren? Really? No, he can't stand me." Sapphire responded somewhat bewildered, a feeling that she quickly clamped down on. She was out of practice suppressing her feelings and she feared Demetra would suffer for it.

"Only because he wants something from you, something you won't give."

Sapphire set her sister down on the ground and knelt down next to her. "You're sure?"

Demetra shrugged. "No, I only got vague feelings from him. I am sure that he was embarrassed about not making a better first impression, he values your opinion. Sorry."

Sapphire sighed, upset with herself. "No I'm sorry. I shouldn't be pressing you about this. You've been trying to learn to shut it off. I shouldn't be asking you to use it."

Sapphire stood up to address her Grandparents. "I'm gonna take Demetra to somewhere more secluded till the race starts. Grandpa why don't you go talk to Professors Agesander, they set up the obstacle course." Robert was something of a tinkerer, Sapphire had seen him eyeing the various machinery set up in the gym since they'd arrived. "Grandma, if you could save us some seats we should be back soon enough."

Sharon nodded. "Of course. We'll see you when you get back."

Sapphire watched her grandmother disappear into the stands while her grandfather approached the professors and started to animatedly ask about the obstacle course. Sapphire wasn't exactly sure how they would take it but she needed some time on her own with Demetra. Some of her sister's problems Sapphire had to deal with personally, the little girl didn't want her grandparents involved.

They exited the gym together and Sapphire started scanning for an empty place to talk. What with the days events Beacon was even more crowded than normal making Sapphire's search a difficult one. Eventually after passing by Robert and a pink haired girl Sapphire found an empty corridor. She stopped her little sister here and knelt down so they were eye to eye. "You have your medication right?"

"Saph you don't have..."

"Yes I do." Sapphire interrupted. "Mom's gone, Father's absent and you don't want grandma and grandpa to know so I'm all that's left. Do you have your medication?"

"Yeah I have it." It was mostly mood stabilizers and sleeping pills. Sapphire remembered all too well Demetra's sleepless nights and those filled with horrible nightmares. Sapphire would often stay in the youngest Rode's room late into the night to make sure she was alright.

"Let me see your arms."

"Saph please, don't."

"Demetra," Sapphire said somewhat forcefully. "I'm not asking."

Demetra closed her eyes before she started to push up her right sleeve. Scattered across her forearm was countless white scars, like the tiny lines of a spiders web. Most were vertical, only deep enough to leave a mark, that was all except one, a horizontal slash mark down the length of her arm that was clearly much much deeper than the others even though it was three years healed. Sapphire never quite got used to seeing it but that's not what she was looking for. She was looking for red scars, ones newly healed and to her dismay she saw half a dozen.

"Demetra."

"I know," Demetra said, her breath drawn in quick little gasps that foretold tears about to fall. "I'm sorry."

"No." Sapphire said pulling her little sibling into a hug. "You never have to be sorry for this, never. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I know it helps, helps you focus, helps let everything out, I've been there but it's not your only option." Sapphire could hear Demetra start to sob and it broke her heart. She was ten years old, she should be crying over petty kid stuff, the crap she was dealing with belonged to someone twice her age. It wasn't fair and what made it worse was that Sapphire could do so very little to help.

Sapphire pulled her sister away from her and looked into her eyes. They were red and puffy. "Just make me a promise. Next time you're at that point call me. Night or day doesn't matter what I'm doing, I'm there for you alright. Whenever you need me I'm there."

Demetra nodded her voice too choked to speak. "It's alright, it's going to be alright." Sapphire said as she pulled Demetra back into a hug. She was far to young to be there and for the millionth time in her life Sapphire wished there was something she could do to make Demetra's life easier.

@Lucius Cypher
@LugubriousSapphire's grandfather is talking to the Agesanders about the mechanical aspect of the obstacle course.
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