Noctis
Zapdos
Damycles
Izurich
Teyao
Dark Cloud
Lucid Dreaming
xenon
Charybdis
MacKensie Trydant's morning had gone much like the previous one. She'd walked the streets in the early morning air, on the way to that grassy spot behind the warehouse, by the river. On the way she tested the magical grapplehook gauntlet on that same tree and her balance on that same single-storey rooftop. This time she hadn't fallen in any bushes, but her slow, clunky and cautious movements did not inspire any confidence. At the riverside she did her stretching exercises and tried to focus on her breathing, but her mind couldn't get away from the new problems she faced.
In all of her years, she'd never been involved romantically with anyone before. The need for an immaculate reputation in France's high society made a loose and easy exploration of such hormones and feelings an impossibility. She remembered liking one boy before. But she also remembered how that boy's eyes turned to other girls when he realised that courting MacKensie would be a longer affair than he would've liked. How that disappointment had wounded her. She'd cried in her mother's arms and questioned her desirability, been assured and comforted by her mother, then cried some more on her pillow. Even now, MacKensie's stomach turned just thinking about it.
Here she was in a different world - no weight of family reputation on her shoulders - and yet her sense of dignity and honour remained the same. And feelings remained so complicated. Adam. Adam was the type of man that, on paper, was a perfect match for her. He was well-mannered, considerate and good-natured. The type that she could confidently take home to her parents. Mother would've loved him. Zell. Zell was quite the opposite. She never would've dreamed that she could find herself attracted to such a rogue. But his eyes were full of confidence, ambition and charm. Father would've hated him. Without a doubt, the two of them were handsome, (all of the men in Second Chance were, to be fair.) Both had nice smiles, were tall, had shown they had courage and character in spades already.
She liked them both. She wished she didn't like either of them, for the easiest way out of this situation would be to firmly reject any advances towards her, and keep focus on the mission at hand. That option was still available, but she didn't want to take it. Because deep down, she was attracted to one more than the other. Conciously she was unaware of this fact, and too inexperienced in love to figure it out, but hopefully she would soon, because dragging this situation out would only result in more pain and trouble than it was worth.
...................................................................................................................
During the morning, when the party were together, MacKensie found herself avoiding Zell and Adam. In fact, she was not overly talkative with even James or Barracker, at first - a dissenting voice in the back of her mind accusing her of being a flirtatious coquette. But this awkwardness did not last long as it simply wasn't who MacKensie was. She could not be anyone but her sociable and friendly self. However, once Second Chance left the city, she found herself walking the road by the side of her fellow Ranger, Fenna.
Fenna's comforting presence gave MacKensie the shelter to focus her mind on the mission ahead. "Nice to be moving forward again, is it not?" she commented to the dutchwoman. "I fear I might've lost the edge I gained in the first two days, had I stayed relaxing in the city for any longer."
Yes, perhaps the danger they were walking into would provide the necessity required to use her abilities and regain her confidence. A brave take on the siutation. One she was happy to have.
When the man driving the wagon pulled up next to them and offered a greeting, MacKensie nodded a greeting back. "Good afternoon, sir."
She was happy to let others do the talking, Adam coming up with a smart question, the answer of which interested her.