The second harvest festival is rolling along smoothly as night begins to fall. Almost too much so-- Anandi is secretly a little disappointed there is not more mischief going on. This is not the first time she's found herself bored by all the wholesome celebration, and it's not likely to be the last. She sighs heavily at that thought as she hikes from the apple orchard to the cliffs, absently hoping that she might once again cross paths with Apolonia this evening.As she draws closer to the bonfires, there is a familiar face illuminated by their blaze. How perfect, it's someone she had been meaning to catch up with. “Elena!” Anandi waltzes over to where a tall grey stallion is leaning in, hawkish, to Elena’s wide, sorrowful eyes. “May I borrow you?” She bumps her hip against the other girl’s, smiles sweetly at the stallion, and leads the palomino astray all so easily and succinctly, it almost seems polite. Behind her shoulder she calls: “So sorry, sir! You may have her back later!” She had a gift for bending the world to her whim and making it seem like a kindness. Part of that was to keep the conversation moving, keep events flowing. Without sparing a glance back, Anandi tosses a coin to the crestfallen grey. Maybe he’ll buy himself a nice drink, forget the doe-eyed palomino. Or not. She really doesn’t care.
“So, my dear...” She leads them away from the bonfire, closer to the cliffs, where moonlight illuminates the sharp, steep ridge in silver light. “How are you adjusting to things in Terrastella?” She doesn’t mention, of course, that she knows Elena has adjusted quite beautifully to her new role here.
In truth, Anandi had been keeping an eye on Elena. She was very careful about it, as you should be with these things. Her questions-- harmless inquiries, really-- were discreet. Her Eyes and Ears, the network small but steadily growing in number, were tactful. Most of all she was very careful to ensure that her agents not alter the ebb and flow of court life. Terrastella was the same as always; quiet, sleepy, and unassuming. Under the emissary’s tenure it simply was better observed.
So she doesn't reveal that she knows the new medic has already made a number of friends in Terrastella. In fact she was quite popular around the court, for reasons the emissary very much understood. There was something so very captivating about Elena. A rawness to her that made you want to hold her tight, protect her... or, even better, extend a hand and raise her from the dirt. Show her she did not need protecting. Fire could warm and comfort, but my how it could burn!
Anandi shrugs a wine skin from off her shoulder, takes a sip, and offers it to the palomino. “Meet anyone cute?” Her eyes light up wolfishly as she takes another drink from the skin, and passes it back to her new friend.
corrupts absolutely,
or almost.
A N A N D I
@
some say the loving and the devouring are all the same thing
☾
