[RP] Keeping Your Head Up (Bellen x Zeylla)

[quite uneventful]

Bellen stayed quiet as she ate, watching her carefully, wanting very much to give her more food, but not wanting to pressure the other. She was so thankful the other was enjoying it, a silent smile on her face before she began to speak. Bellen shifted her position. She knew this was bad to say. But she couldn't just leave her, stressed, pained, conflicted. She waited until she was done talking, thought a minute, and then responded. "If you want to leave, you should. If you're worried about where to stay, you can stay with me." Bellen said carefully, softly, her pump biscuit aching. Vrem was wouldn't leave a troll with such pain. Bellen might've, but it was Vremea worrying over Zeylla, not Bellen. "You don't need to leave her completely. You just." Bellen sighed, sitting down in the plush chair before running a nervous hand through her hair. "Visit her to give her her food?" She could feel her teenage habit of playing with her hair when she became nervous, something she did when she's felt anxiety or some nervousness in what she did. She realized this, then stopped herself. She wanted to help. Her inner struggle was making her nervous and sad, but it was so hard to keep herself composed.

"Why do you want to be needed by someone who just wants to put you through pain?" Bellen asked softly, voice low. "There are so many others. Trolls... Trolls who are worth your attention. Trolls that care about you and want to see you rise, not help you fall. We all need you, Zeylla. And we all want to help you. We do not want any harm to come to you. W-we, we want—" Bellen was getting frazzled at this point, voice shaking, hands trembling. A yellow tear fell down her cheek, but the hemoanon did not wipe it away. She could feel her pain, could understand her desire to be needed. She felt that, when she helped trolls. It helped her feel better about herself, and she loved being needed, loved helping trolls when they asked for it. She strived to be the troll people searched for and asked for help. And here was one troll such as she, who wanted the attention only one terrible lusus could give her. She wanted to hug her, but she was weak, she was hurt. Instead, she outstretched a hand, carefully inching forward. She pressed a soft, gentle hand upon one of her wounds. With slight concentration, the yellowblood felt something in her power through her, and a warm light surged from her hands. It was a warm, caring feeling. Bellen wanted her to understand— This feeling of home she was lacking, that was what she was missing. Her lusus had never made her feel comfortable or important in any way. She wanted her to know she was worth more than being used. She could be healed, there was still time.

Vremea could still do something.

 

[artificial bones]

Zeylla's eyes followed Bellen as she sat down, and she watched the way she ran her hands through her hair. A nervous tic, Zeylla noted with some guilt. She had not wanted this for her friend; she should have never brought any of this up. She should have stayed in her hive. It would have been easier for everyone. She felt embarrassed at Bellen's offer for her to stay at her hive. It made Zeylla feel weak, like she couldn't handle her own...but maybe she couldn't. Maybe this was what she needed? She could still go check on her lusus, but...she had somewhere safe to escape to.

She watched Bellen struggle to keep herself strong in front of her, but the pain was in her voice. Along with conviction and kindness, there was also deep pain. And not just in her voice. It was also in the way her hands shook, the way her lips looked tight, fighting not to shake, and the single yellow tear that rolled down her cheek. Her little speech chipped at Zeylla's reserve, and it took everything the teen had not to break down. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek and tucked her emotions back into their little box, eyes finally breaking from Bellens as she took the moment to take another bite of food. She had just set her fork back down when Bellen reached out, slowly, for her. Zeylla almost pulled away, but stopped herself. She could give her friend that much, let her have that little moment.

She had not expected the warmth though, and not just the warmth of her hand, but the odd glowing warmth of...Zeylla stopped trying to process as she watched Bellen's powers at work, the glowing that emitted from her soothed the aches of Zeylla's arm, and her eyes slowly shut as a feeling of comfort washed over her. Bellen's words rang in her head, and after a moment, she pulled her arm away from Bellen's, only to place her hand atop the other trolls.

She couldn't agree to what Bellen had said about her being needed by other trolls, but she wouldn't argue it. She appreciated the kindness, the care, and she wouldn't insult Bellen by shooting it down. So she let her hand linger on Bellen's for a short moment before placing it in her lap and saying, "Perhaps.....staying here would be a good idea," she flexed her hand and added with the smallest of smiles, eyes coming back to meet Bellens, "Thank you, by the way...it feels much better," it seemed every troll she met had some magnificent skill. It was slightly comedic in a sense. She considered herself to be great and amazing, and yet she had no flashy skills or powers. Just a plain ol' troll.

Evidently she was important to Bellen though....which....felt nice?  

[quite uneventful]

Bellen stayed quiet as she watched the hand on her own fall down to the greyblood's lap, nodding quietly. Did she— Had she said yes? Bellen looked up at her and sighed, looking a lot less stressed. "You're sure. Completely sure?" Bellen asked, just in case. She needed to strategize around this, now, and be a lot more careful... Zeylla was a good friend, but she couldn't know. She looked at her hand, then looked at the mostly healed wound. "Yes. It's fairly useful, but I try not to use it much." She focused again, and a soft yellow light emitted from her hand. "It's a bit revealing." The light faded, and she scooted closer now. "May I see your others?"

 

[artificial bones]

Zeylla wished Bellen didn't question her certainty, because it made her want to take it back. Say nevermind and leave, continue her life as she always had. But she held herself back, insisted to her other half that this was what she needed. That Bellen could be right, and that she wasn't abandoning Leechmom, she was just...taking a break. She nodded, both in response to Bellen and as an assurance to herself, "Yes...yes, I'm sure," her voice held less of it's usual stoniness and was soft and uncertain, but either way she had made up her mind. This was where she would be staying.

quite uneventful

DOOOOONE