memory, you gave me another note
a voice that is endless, bring it all home
Kassandra cannot help but feel... terrible, as she peers into Katniss' eyes; they are a deep, ponderous shade, like the maroon of dried blood, or the slightly warm ashes of a dying fire. There are lines about them, lines etched into her face, long tracks of sleepless nights, of sadness and exhaustion; each one was both a badge earned through suffering and a story waiting to be told. Kass was saddened by her gaze but she also wanted to know, wanted to ask, find out what pained Katniss so, why her eyes sunk so deep and the air around her body hung so heavy.
But that would be prying, wouldn't it? Rude and uncouth and something one did not do with a nigh-on stranger who was definitely of a rank higher than them. Kassandra imagined someone coming up to her with barely any introduction and attempting such a thing; ripping down the sheet-covered crevasse in her heart where those piles of bones sit, taking them out one by one and asking, now, who did this belong to?
The mare Kass was so rudely gawking at offers a smile, heavy on the edges; Kass isn't so well versed in the art of social graces, but there is no mirth, no trace of pleasantry in the pregnant mare's eyes, and even to one as innocent as she, it reads as false. Still, Kass imagines the art of the fake smile is a hard one to perfect, but a necessary skill for someone of any importance in the world. She appreciates the attempt at a calming gesture and responds with a smile of her own... small, shy, genuine, and apologetic.
She accepted the weight of Kassandra's gaze with simple admittance. Kass, however, had no way of knowing this woman was a warrior; it was not so strange to see Katniss pregnant it was strange to her to see anyone pregnant. Kass had never held a maternal relationship in her life. If it weren't for the steady stream of tutors sent to her by her aunt, the Queen Nethalandin, Kass would have no concept of how babies were made, at all.
Just Katniss. It seemed the mare was selling herself short, but it warmed Kassandra to be on a first-name basis with anyone. "Very well, Just Katniss," Kass quipped with some friendly youthful petulance. Her grin widened.
Just Katniss peers into the mirror again and then her side... ripples, as the being within her moves. Kass jumped a little, swaying her head back as her eyes were drawn to the spot where the tiny life within Katniss announced its existence. She apologizes with her eyes this time, smile turning sheepish and ears sinking low as Katniss begins to move away, inviting Kass to walk with her. She does, moving her own bulk up to step beside the pregnant mare. "I've never actually seen a pregnancy," she explains, hoping it will shine some light on her reactions towards Katniss' state. "My own mother died quite shortly after I was born..." she trailed off, realizing she was bringing her own weight to Katniss' already heavy world.
"My name is Kassandra," she offered when prompted, her tone lightening, "and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Just Katniss." Her smile returned and she winked. "How long until you are due, may I ask?" she said, already asking. "I imagine it must be quite exciting."
Oculos, who had gotten distracted trying to nick a low-sitting fruit from a nearby booth, realized his companion was walking away and broke off his snack quest to catch up.
@Katniss | does katniss want to adopt another baby before she has her real one lmao | "Speaking."
But that would be prying, wouldn't it? Rude and uncouth and something one did not do with a nigh-on stranger who was definitely of a rank higher than them. Kassandra imagined someone coming up to her with barely any introduction and attempting such a thing; ripping down the sheet-covered crevasse in her heart where those piles of bones sit, taking them out one by one and asking, now, who did this belong to?
The mare Kass was so rudely gawking at offers a smile, heavy on the edges; Kass isn't so well versed in the art of social graces, but there is no mirth, no trace of pleasantry in the pregnant mare's eyes, and even to one as innocent as she, it reads as false. Still, Kass imagines the art of the fake smile is a hard one to perfect, but a necessary skill for someone of any importance in the world. She appreciates the attempt at a calming gesture and responds with a smile of her own... small, shy, genuine, and apologetic.
She accepted the weight of Kassandra's gaze with simple admittance. Kass, however, had no way of knowing this woman was a warrior; it was not so strange to see Katniss pregnant it was strange to her to see anyone pregnant. Kass had never held a maternal relationship in her life. If it weren't for the steady stream of tutors sent to her by her aunt, the Queen Nethalandin, Kass would have no concept of how babies were made, at all.
Just Katniss. It seemed the mare was selling herself short, but it warmed Kassandra to be on a first-name basis with anyone. "Very well, Just Katniss," Kass quipped with some friendly youthful petulance. Her grin widened.
Just Katniss peers into the mirror again and then her side... ripples, as the being within her moves. Kass jumped a little, swaying her head back as her eyes were drawn to the spot where the tiny life within Katniss announced its existence. She apologizes with her eyes this time, smile turning sheepish and ears sinking low as Katniss begins to move away, inviting Kass to walk with her. She does, moving her own bulk up to step beside the pregnant mare. "I've never actually seen a pregnancy," she explains, hoping it will shine some light on her reactions towards Katniss' state. "My own mother died quite shortly after I was born..." she trailed off, realizing she was bringing her own weight to Katniss' already heavy world.
"My name is Kassandra," she offered when prompted, her tone lightening, "and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Just Katniss." Her smile returned and she winked. "How long until you are due, may I ask?" she said, already asking. "I imagine it must be quite exciting."
Oculos, who had gotten distracted trying to nick a low-sitting fruit from a nearby booth, realized his companion was walking away and broke off his snack quest to catch up.
@
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