For Sophie

[resealable]

[Deva is farther away from the sea than she wants to be. But it wasn't as if she really had a choice in any of this. By now, rumor of her survival has made it back to her former husband's family, and the resulting bounty that has been put out on her head is unfortunate to say the least. The last town she'd passed through, someone had recognized her, and trouble had started. And then escalated. And then yes, someone had died, but really he only had himself to blame. All right, and maybe also Deva a little, but only if you squinted. She had been defending herself in any case, and the bleeding gash in her shoulder.

Not that anyone in town wanted to hear that though, especially not from a stranger in town with a price on her head, so she'd fled. The quickest way out had been heading inland. The woods have grown deeper and thicker, and Deva thinks 'lost' likely doesn't even cover her current predicament. As soon as she could, she'd left the main road, some half-forgotten path that wound and twisted first in parallel and then wound further out into the woods.

For a moment, perhaps, Deva thinks her luck will hold. Any pursuit is far enough behind that she can't hear them. The bleeding has turned sluggish in her hastily bound shoulder. That's when a crack of thunder rings out overhead and the skies begin to violently drop rain, cold and heavy and punishing.]

Figures.

[She isn't expecting to see a small cottage out here, and when she first catches sight of it she half thinks she's seeing things. When a few hard blinks don't have it vanishing, well, Deva figures she needs to take her chances. Mysterious cottage deep in the woods during a thunderstorm. What could go wrong?

She knocks on the door, stepping back to pull her cloak closer about herself. She's a small woman, no taller than five-foot-two, all soft curves and delicate featuers. Right now she's soaked through, dark hair heavy and hanging in her face, pale skin even paler than usual -- a bedraggled shivering thing standing on a doorstep not sure if she's leaping from frying pan to fire or vice versa. Raising her voice, not even sure if it will be heard above the crashes of thunder and the roar of the rain.] Please. I need help.

Comments

[resealable]

There are many dangers in the towns too.

[Deva counters. More dangerous she thinks, for someone like her at least. And maybe, she thinks, for someone like Sophie Groeneveldt. Or well, maybe not. Maybe the Groeneveldts are the most dangerous in the end. Deva would still rather being alone in the woods in a small cabin with this woman in front of her then back where she had run from.

She perks up at the mention of a skinchanger though, soulless or not.] I've heard many stories, mostly told when men have had too much to drink. But you're really a skinchanger? Then we have that in common, though I've only the one other skin.

[Still, someone not quite human? Is a much more comfortable idea, and Deva relaxes back.] Thank you, again. I've brought mostly trouble to your doorstep, and I don't have much to offer in return aside from gratitude.

[worthtempting]

There are. But people are more easily defeated than the beasts can be. The beasts are smarter, though, in that they leave well enough alone most of the time. People seem to have great difficulty minding their own business.

[ sophie may not have positive feelings toward humans in group. at very least, she's certainly chosen to be out in the woods in a small cabin instead of a castle with her family or a town with other people. ]

I am, yes. I can take on any form I choose. Having one other skin is better than having no others, I think.

[ sophie chuckles, and it's a warm, musical sound. ]

Second skin or not, I have little worry of what trouble you may carry in your wake. Gratitude is sufficient, and if you have any skill at cooking, that would also be welcome.

[resealable]

People do. It's very frustrating.

[And dangerous. Deva's own feelings towards humans are complicated. She's been hurt -- and badly -- but she's still been met with kindness from others. So mostly she's wary if anything. Sophie being not entirely human is actually a comfort.]

It is, yes. Any form though, that's remarkable, to be anything you wanted to be. I'm a selkie, one of the seal folk. [Since they're being honest. She won't talk about the other that she also is, partly because she does not entirely understand it herself. It scares her.]

You're kind. [Deva observes with a smile, one that brightens as she continues, almost sounding proud,] I can cook. I learned how to for my family. [There's a moment where her expression falters here before she catches herself and the smile resurfaces.] Rose helped teach me. I'm a fair housekeeper as well. [So she'll certainly clean up after any mess she makes.]

[worthtempting]

Frustrating is a word, certainly.

[ sophie agrees with deva entirely, though her tone is mild. ]

Unique in all the world. [ the words have a sort of bitter amusement to them. ] Ah, I have never met a selkie. Where is your other skin? [ she didn't notice deva carrying anything with her, much less the entire pelt of a seal. ]

I try to be kind, since I am incapable of being good. [ sophie does not ask about family; family is complicated and she did not miss the falter in deva's expression. ] I have very little house to keep, but the cooking would be appreciated.

[ besides, the tiny hut is already neat. there's not really enough in it to be cluttered, but everything is organized and accessible to someone of sophie's height. the ceiling is rather low, even, as though it was designed for someone small. it was; sophie built the house herself, for herself. ]