02-28-2021, 03:43 PM
<center><img src=https://i.postimg.cc/2yFSC8Lf/Avelina-table.png></center><center><table bgcolor=5c5039 style="border-color:#121313; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 10px"" cellspacing=15 cellpadding=15 width=600><tr><td><p align=justify><font color=ededed face=times size=2>Avelina’s soft smile remains in place while a few others arrive - no one she knows, at first, and she cannot decide whether that is a comfort or not. She supposes she wouldn't mind the presence of a friend for whatever is about to happen. And - as though in a cruel twist of that thought - she sees purple and orange from the corner of her eye and her heart sinks. There's only one familiar face she never wanted to see again and he is here. Fear bubbles up in her throat as she watches Skandar pick out a place. He doesn’t seem to notice her, or maybe he simply does not care, but his presence in this suddenly too-small group instantly unsettles her.
She thinks about leaving, thinks about going absolutely anywhere else. Her fireflies don’t still like the last time she thought of him - they buzz around her in an agitated frenzy and she's sure that the scars that are hidden beneath her charcoal mane begin to burn.
But a glow grabs her attention and Avelina remembers why she is here - remembers that there are things greater than her fear. The fireflies settle, back to their usual lazy and calming dance. She shifts her stance a little, as though a few more inches between herself and Skandar could protect her, but the presence of the fairies serves as an effective distraction. She forgets about everything else as the situation is explained to them. None of the names of those who have been taken into the Afterlife are familiar to her, but that does not matter. She does not even need to think about it for a second before she pledges herself over one side or the other.
For strangers or friends, her instinct to help would be just as strong as it is now. Although she is not sure she is <i>capable</i> of helping, that insecurity is not strong enough to deter her from trying all the same - whatever comes. There is a small flutter of nerves as she takes those first steps but she grows more certain with each one and offers a smile to the fairy she joins.
She will help with the rescue.
</font></p>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Kaushan+Script&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><div style="font-family: 'Kaushan Script', cursive; font-size: 19px; color: #fde4b7; transform: uppercase; line-height: 105%; text-align: center; text-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #ebcd6c;"><i>avelina</i></div></tr></td></table></center>
She thinks about leaving, thinks about going absolutely anywhere else. Her fireflies don’t still like the last time she thought of him - they buzz around her in an agitated frenzy and she's sure that the scars that are hidden beneath her charcoal mane begin to burn.
But a glow grabs her attention and Avelina remembers why she is here - remembers that there are things greater than her fear. The fireflies settle, back to their usual lazy and calming dance. She shifts her stance a little, as though a few more inches between herself and Skandar could protect her, but the presence of the fairies serves as an effective distraction. She forgets about everything else as the situation is explained to them. None of the names of those who have been taken into the Afterlife are familiar to her, but that does not matter. She does not even need to think about it for a second before she pledges herself over one side or the other.
For strangers or friends, her instinct to help would be just as strong as it is now. Although she is not sure she is <i>capable</i> of helping, that insecurity is not strong enough to deter her from trying all the same - whatever comes. There is a small flutter of nerves as she takes those first steps but she grows more certain with each one and offers a smile to the fairy she joins.
She will help with the rescue.
</font></p>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Kaushan+Script&display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><div style="font-family: 'Kaushan Script', cursive; font-size: 19px; color: #fde4b7; transform: uppercase; line-height: 105%; text-align: center; text-shadow: 0px 0px 4px #ebcd6c;"><i>avelina</i></div></tr></td></table></center>