Maija's Links
Feels a supreme loyalty to the doe, ever since they first met - a near instant camaraderie formed out of the small pieces they found could be trusted in one another. Valued for her humor, fast wit, and understanding, all while retaining a veneer that can only be described as sunshine. Though she finds her friend's terror makes her quite slippery, at times bringing Olya closer to actions that UY fears will hurt her more, does feel that Olya has demonstrated her own kind of stability in ways too profound to be denied. Despite her better reasoning, a friendship she has opened herself up to, at a time when the concept seems a tunnel growing ever darker. One of her dearest ties in a way that, almost protectively, surreptitiously, goes unspoken. Would do nearly anything for her. Narrow starlight, quiet reliance. Redo soon...
A fast-growing friendship and loyalty that was met during the falling golden leaves of the rut. Despite some events in the Forest, related to Greitai as well, were littered with the smallest succubitch's extreme thoughts for fear of losing expensive pearls, complicate the eventual opinion, which is lightning-quickly whitewashed with a struggle with herself. Quickly grasps a thin transparent thread, gradually turning into a strong fishing line, clinging with all her fingers and not letting go even in difficult doubts, leaving cuts. A small but fast-growing light flickers in the night with an acrid blue flame. A trembling excitement, an unwavering loyalty. Misses her all the time. A kind of addiction.
Fondness. Had the youth join her on a lazy evening, and regifted him a flower that she had no desire to keep in her possession. Endeared by how it blossomed into a bedrock for Kyoyuu's repeated visits, particularly when she came to know he was associated with a young doe Eska had taken a liking to. Struck by hints of his intensity, loyal and stoic, and finds his presence both comforting and a source of worry among noticing the Gloaming's drifting, infuriated looks, and their targets, at times. In a way, a fig branch she hopes to keep from cracking, but somewhat deliberate in trying to test that limit with herself over another.
A nice lady. Respected to the point they don't want her to see their more vicious side. Thought of almost like a maternal figure due to the care and concern she's showed them, and wouldn't hesitate to tear into someone if they tried to harm her. mom friend......
Besieger, pyre. Met only recently but in other forms, in habits of survival and necessity, something known since youth. A creature entrenched in decay and dust, a provocation and mockery of life. After a game of debts, finds herself on the absurd side of benefitted by its lenient calms, and resides frequently within the creature's banished world, and thus is surrounded by many of the creature's evils and relics of a horrifying past - but also untouched by her own troubles, in a city encapsulated from time. Only quietly tries to whisper deals to it, and tends to try to avoid no matter how grateful she is for the accommodation it's made, wary of each negotiation she's tried to make with the spectre, and each impasse they've as of yet overcome. While her position is unclear and restricted to trying to ward others away or cushion its intentions, does not seem willed to undermine it, either.
Drawn to.
Known through a few ties, but mostly lauded - and adored - for her association with Astra.
Completely adored, longs to both know more about her and still grant her a certain amount of space and choice to the girl that she feels is owed via birthright.
Non-Biological familial figure. Loves dearly.
Captivation, blood feathers, sibilance. Far from the most unlikely ally she'd ever made, but with enough teeth and tempers to put her among the most brutal of predators known in and out of the forest. Although expecting her to be ruinous and wild at many points, drawn in by the suggestion of understanding between them time and again, and the temptation of being able to bring steady ground to the raptoress, on the suspicion that such a thing has been scarce for them both for too long. For a time, regarded as a potential form of safety, if she could weave securely enough within a dependable demon's teeth. Came to realize the full depth of her own feelings without much surprise, when they reunited after a number of events, and no longer willing to risk additional harm to, though that's far from saying she imagines either of them free from the variations of violence. Views their chance at having had a painless, easy, and conventional romance to be stolen by the forest, and the shared misfortunes of timing, and so follows a love that stains them further each dalliance. Trusted in life and death and so many matters in between, but does not trust her not to try and pull them both under the surface at the first sign of fractured waters if the huntress deems it necessary, and has found no false peace for herself in the prospect of avoiding every ripple she's encountered with her. Utterly adored. this is still not up to date...
crying about them brb
An exile from the wilds of Amnula, where her allies struck a tentative deal with the half-god, and she helped to provide him with at least temporary place to retreat. Held a worry for some time over how he would act in the Endless, and how that would reflect on herself, especially as he began to flourish in much more violent shades than she had hoped - in other ways, relates to his bloodsoaked path forward, in its odd shadow of her own. Over time, has found him to be no less of an outlier, but also with his virtues. Certainly someone she has good reasons not to trust, yet for what they have in common and their place of origin, he's one of the first faces she would turn to in the worst fits of chaos and even for conviviality, believing his manner to have a certain judicious cruelty and insight to it that many others lack.
Watched distantly over a scattering of years, and has only grown more perplexed and quieted toward the sapphire bull. The soul who had originally (but unintentionally) lit the path from Amnula to the forest for her. Reserved and a bit uneasy when he's in sight, often feigning distraction or obliviousness.
Initially a source of perplexion, could never help but to expect a brutal brand of violence from the lioness that never came. Eventually coming to associate an odd chivalry with Umay, strengthened by associations she made to Eska, and the dove's fondness for the demon, which only seemed to be returned in the gentlest of fashions, for which she was glad. Felt a curious sense of guilt, then, the first time the lioness ever attacked her, though unable to be surprised by the act itself or what she had possibly meant to express by doing so. Attempted to barter around this, despite herself, and came into an agreement that meant a lot to her when they both agreed to avoid making a continuation of patterns that recurred elsewhere in both their lives. Adored in various facets; wary of, in others, where the last, most lethal series of events have left her quietly regretful, as much for the lioness herself and her own negligence in certain boundaries.
[ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ? ] Cherished, important. more someday... || the mental illness is indeed bad
A consistently held respect, through highs and lows of personal connection to the doe. Defensive over something in the doe's authenticity and what it means to her; does not regard her or her mate as touchable. Never of the impression they were of similar worlds, a view painfully cemented by their last talk, and faded revelations in the cuts that came.
[ ♡ ⚔ ? ? ? ] ...
Memories of his first days in the forest continue to stain any actions in present day with disfavor. Has seen how the Provocateur has changed, as his place grew more steady in the Endless; assumes the man has found a foothold. Does not savor the thought that he might have only adjusted his behavior now, once he's decided he wanted to make the Endless into one of his homes, but continues to try and meet him where he has made visible efforts to protect those he cares about, while maintaining a level of caution around him. On the best days, amused by his objection to the broad and almost clumsy moniker of "wolf" to describe him, encouraging anything more deserving of artistry to be revealed in the man. Finds the insult in the simplicity, and not the hints of predation in his nature. Some uncertainty.
Re-evaluating.
Has never met a creature who exemplified or carried grace more masterfully than the scarred doe, or the dignity she represents to her. Shared several dark, bloodtinged corners with the other doe, and feels they are of similar circumstances in some ways. One of her closest friends, treated with an immense yet unfathomable loyalty out of a bleak fascination for the gentleness the hind has shown her - short though she expects it to last. Thought of often, even in the subtler day-to-day paradigm of her life. Someone who has remained more kind with her than most, despite the Sandpiper's own wishes, and feels unable to comprehend the significance of that sometimes outside of her blatant appreciation. At other times, stayed by the eternal doe's curt temper, though not always for the harm it intends to do. Knows her only well enough to have made up her mind what she wants to show in return, when possible. Harvest, reap.
Exposure, rawness, daunting insight. Fluctuation; eye-to-eye versus polarity. A coming together of complication and simplicity, of logic and feeling. Holds Maijatla at arm's length as often as she pulls her close, and resents her open heart as much as she appreciates it. The closest thing the Sandpiper has to a best friend and confidante, however messy and distant the tie has been. Sometimes thinks she sees something there that she cannot ascertain, and struggles to both pinpoint and deflect it.
Curious of. At times, a protectiveness, finds it often easy to expect more with him. Holds conflicting opinions of the Empyreal, both charmed and endeared by his presentation and made cautious by his acts. Most recently, after having thought they cleared the air between them, skeptical of his attempts to start a fight that could have put her in danger; uncertain if it was a deliberate slight or not, paired with another misleading impression he had given her.
Appreciation, hesitancy. Regarded as a living contradiction. Less so for how she behaves, but rather for what she provokes within him. Harbors an uncanny and persistent desire to be vulnerable with her and to take comfort in her company, yet finds it impossible to let his guard down around her. A vicious cycle of platonic attraction and scathing repulsion. Intoxicating nostalgia for a toxic home.
Though never verbalized, considered one of the most intelligent creatures of the forest. Among the first whose presence she'll watch within contentious social settings, and occasionally finds their temperament easy to understand and rely on. For all that, and some pleasant moments shared, doesn't underestimate the complexity of their motives, and occasionally someone she'll hold in trepidation.
Calming and likable presence.
Feels a tender but very distant concern for the young dragon, mostly keeps to afar.
A clearly remembered kindness, even if small. Holds a sort of sentimentality for, as her presence reminds him how much he's changed in the past near-century (over a year of Forest/real time).
A haunted seeming man who grabs her attention frequently.
Considers her a friend through Aligheiri.
Dimmed trust. From the beginning, easily aware of a self-defeating undercurrent to the dragon's nature. After ruminating on personal losses and traumas, wary of letting her own hardships bleed into the already considerable ones the dragon faces, though recognizes and mourns that once she had felt an amount of kinship and understanding that led her to believe she could depend on the dragon. Leans into the few times Ruxandra has hinted at distancing herself from Maija; more believing it to be best for Ruxandra's sake, though not necessarily her own. Privately, ruthlessly, considered a sham of a friendship where she only briefly manufactured herself to be of some significance to the dragoness.
Uncertainty. While there have always been layers of complication in this relationship, at least from Rux's point of view, there was a time Maija was a respite in Rux's storms. The luminescent had been considered saint-like for what Rux believed was immense generosity and a charitable willingness to be a supportive voice after a series of egregious blunders. Felt a friendship had formed, but when Greitai returned, Rux believed it best to take a more cautious approach with Maija, not wanting to invite the raptor's violence or disturb the closeness between the two when Greitai despises Rux. Further still, was never able to dislodge the feeling she was little more than a leech on Maija. Has now come to realize something has grown not only distant, but cold, between them. And now that she's offered the promised explanation for Azag's strange actions at a particularly bad time, Rux isn't sure how to move forward from here: leave things unspoken, or attempt to reach understanding or reconciliation. After losing the strength to hold on to several relationships under similar dynamics, isn't allowing herself much hope.
One of the most benevolent faces met when she had first set foot in the Endless and began to start a new life filled with its many complications, solidifying with a role he'd taken in helping Nélida regain much of her independence and aid, in the wake of tragedies both her daughters had undergone. Keeps a faithful presence toward his known children, where she can, and for all his importance to her, fully despairs in seeing him in the forest where she believes circumstance has only been unfavorable to him. Tied into all of this are an unvoiced confusion and denial over some contradictions she has caught hints of, only making her fealty to him all the more evident.
An old, dear friend. Adores and always expresses readiness to come to her aid.
Bashful and serene. Regarded with great endearment, without knowing her well. Taken by surprise after a specific act, one rainy night, that the feline offered that entailed no direct demand on either of them but was irrevocably kind.
Recent encounter thus doesn’t know well. Finds the air surrounding the doe, enchanting. Never met someone quite like her or someone that carries themselves quite like she does. Shared some pleasant moments with. Has come to think of but is quick to deny the fondness she feels. Believing it to be too soon to judge or trust. Would like to get to know better through personal experience. Deliberate and mesmerizing.
Bemused enough by his behaviors and brief encounters in the Endless that, when she found him suffering from the effects of a familiar toxin, she wasted no time in bringing him somewhere to recuperate, where she could learn more about him. Patient and concessive toward, with an underlying speculation for where his exhaustion might lead him.
A source of confusion in as many ways as she is a curiosity. Helped him in a time of need for which he is truly grateful, though he considers his debt repaid: to him, a logical end to the connection. But it's not so simple. Unresolved tension and restraint.
Prism and muse. Regards the phantom doe like a living rift, subtle and sweet, evocative of recovery and escape.
Soft and soothing company • Nat-Nat loves spending time with to the doe. Feels comfortable by her side, and feels somehow protectful about and bonded to.