"You put a fever inside me, and I've been cold since you left,"
"It's a terrible thing to do what Mashka did, doesn't matter if you're a Saint or a Myth. It haunts you all the same, remember that before you decide to go chasing ghosts."
sh...
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"Zasha, I don't suppose you would mind helping me downstairs with the children would you?"
Mashka had been staying the the dockside inn, in Fjerda for about two weeks, she had enough money to keep her going for another month, but then she needed to truly start over. Within the two weeks she's been there, Oksana has been kind, kinder than she ever thought anyone could be. She didn't exactly have the best experience in Fjerda, but in her time here she's grown rather fond of the children.
The children didn't know the difference between Ravkan or Fjerdan, Saints, or Djel, Grisha or Otkazat'sya. They only know what they are taught.
"Of course."
Mashka makes her way down to the main living area of the inn, a common room of sorts. The children play, while Oksana tends to her youngest, Josev. Varia and Korina sit in front of the fire, a bear skin rug beneath them. Mashka sits next to them, trying not to disturb them, Varia was only six then, fighting with her four year old sister.
"Korina! This is mine, give it back!" Whatever toy Korina had in her hand, Varia yanks it out of Korina's hands.
Mashka find it all sorts of amusing, the problems that plague you as a child, how she wishes that was the scale of her turmoil.
"Varia, what a beautiful doll, may I see?" Mashka tries her best to speak to her at her level, but luckily for her, her Fjerdan was only just above her grade level.
Varia frowns over to Mashka. "Mommy says you're strange, will you promise not to be strange to my doll."
Mashka tries not to take offense, it was clear she was not from here, even to the children. "You know, being strange isn't such a bad thing."
"It's not?" Korina furrows her little eyebrows up at her.
Mashka shakes her head. "No, some of the best people are strange at first, then before you know it, they're just like you."
Varia giggles. "Mommy says we must open our home to those who need us, even the strange. Once there was a big man, and he was strange, but he made us yummy stew... so he couldn't be so strange."
"I can't make you that stew, but I do promise not to make your doll strange." Korina claps her hands in agreement, their fight forgotten by her at least.
Varia slowly hands Mashka the doll. "Okay, and...if you make her a little strange that's okay...maybe then she'll be more like you."
It's then Mashka feels a small part of her heart start to crack back into a place broken long ago.
~
Staring at the blonde girl in front of her Mashka covers her mouth, it's as though the Saints have parted to give the sun an angelic glow behind Varia. Quickly pulling the young girl into a hug Mashka cradles her head in her neck, like she's done many times before.
