Chapter 2: For Whom the Flowers Weep
Unfortunately, things turned bad rather quickly when word reached Hermes that the Iykanones were being reconsidered on being released and instead be returned to aether.
Meteion had only seen the Iykanones a few times but she knew right away she didn't like being around them. For she only felt a blind rush of anger and savagery from them that frightened her. It wasn't like they wanted to hunt the other creations here because they were hungry… they were just so… angry that when they saw something they had to attack it. Meteion didn't like that at all. Still, she hoped that they wouldn't decide to unmake them, it would only upset Hermes.
She knew enough to know that Hermes was going to speak with the other researchers about the Iykanones fates and she could feel the anxiety inside him growing higher and higher as he secretly knew that they were right in that there was nothing they could do for the Iykanones aggressive behavior.
He was suffering, inside, and she knew that being around him would only make it worse since he would see how upset she was from feeling his emotions.
"I won't go to the meeting," she said, stepping beside Claire and turning her face away so he wouldn't see her pained expression. "I'll… stay with Claire."
She wanted to be around that calmness that Claire seemed to create and knew that it would be for the best for everyone. Still, she wanted Hermes permission before she stayed behind. She silently pleaded with him to allow it; least her presence only reflect the sadness he felt. She felt an uncomfortable unease coming from him as if he were both glad she was leaving and sad that she wasn't coming with him? That was strange.
But he gave an understanding nod, asking if Claire could stay with Meteion until the meeting was over, which she agreed to. It was a surprise when Meteion realized that Claire was feeling sad about this as well—though in a different way from both her and Hermes. Meteion became aware that Claire could feel Hermes' sadness and was worried for him. Though she couldn't feel it like Meteion could… she just knew that he was sad without having to feel it from him. It was like she could completely understand what others were feeling without being an entelechy. Meteion wanted to say something about it but found herself unable to form words as she watched Hermes leave with the others, leaving just her and Claire alone.
"Are you alright?" Claire asked her gently, placing a hand on her shoulder and Meteion liked that immediately, feeling herself calm down almost at once.
"Um…" Meteion looked down at the ground, a bit hesitant. "Actually, I… Can you help me with something, Claire?"
She looked back to Claire who blinked and tilted her head inquisitively and Meteion could feel how she wanted to help but was wondering just what she was about to ask. So she explained, "The meeting… it'll make Hermes sad. So I want to cheer him up. With a flower."
Claire's expression didn't change but she felt how a tiny bulb of curiosity suddenly blossomed inside her at the answer. Meteion then explained nervously, "Hermes likes flowers the most… of all the creations here in Elpis. Most creations are expected to be interesting. Or beautiful. Or strong. Better in some way… But flowers are different. They're designed to suit our emotions. What we feel and want to convey… Hermes likes that."
"Do they?" Claire asked with a chuckle and Meteion sighed favorably at how Claire seemed to like that idea as well. As a matter of fact, Claire reminded Meteion a little bit of a flower. Her pretty pink hair and rosy cheeks the same shade as many flowers that grew here in Elpis… with her bright green eyes also reminded her of healthy leaves.
"Do you… like flowers, too?" Meteion asked curiously and Claire smiled as she gave a nod, which made Meteion very pleased to hear it.
So now they had an important job to do and off they went to find a flower for Hermes. So they set off, searching about the area to find one that she thought that Hermes might like. Claire was quick to find unique kinds of flowers—which is important since Elpis had no shortage of flowers—but finding the perfect one for Hermes turned out to be harder than she first thought.
Hermes taught her that when giving a gift to someone it was important to always think of the recipient first. So while she liked the flowers Claire tracked down, none of them seemed to fit right for Hermes.
As they walked, Meteion started chatting with Claire again, telling her more of some of the many creations that were currently here and how she hoped that they make it into the world someday. Claire didn't interrupt her as she let her talk and talk… something that Meteion usually had trouble with other people—save for Hermes—and thought that it was fun being able to enjoy her time with someone else like this.
As much as she loved to be with Hermes and help him with his work—it wasn't the same as when she was playing with Claire. Hermes often said to her that it was time to play, but it was really more of following him around as he observed the creations here. While she did enjoy it, she wished that she could share those wonderful feelings in her heart with Hermes right now so that he could enjoy himself too.
The two of them looked and looked, yet still found nothing that she was satisfied with. She was starting to think that they weren't going to find anything until something white caught her attention.
She and Claire went over to see what it was, and that was when she spotted a cluster of flowers shining in the fading sun. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the beautiful Elpis flowers—as white as snow like they almost always were.
"So they're here, too!" Meteion chirped as she knelt down on the grass to admire them. She had always liked these flowers the most, for they were just like her… able to feel the emotions of all those around her.
"And those entities like the Elpis flower, that have the ability to interact with this energy, converting emotions into tangible phenomena… are entelechies."
"That's me, that's me! An entelechy!"
For some reason, Meteion found herself remembering that conversation long after they moved on. Hermes explained to the others of the Elpis flowers and how they could interact with the feelings of those around them much like herself… for they were both Entelechies.
"So… are we the same? Entelechies?"
That had been a question that Meteion had been trying to figure out. For Claire was so much like her but not like her at the same time. Her aether was almost as thin… and even Hermes confirmed that Claire could interact with dynamis—though it was much more limited.
Either way, Meteion continued to be fascinated by her new friend, not caring if she was an Entelechy or not. She just smiled and called Claire her 'friend in thinness' as they went about their tour of Elpis. She took a lot of pride as she helped to show off some of the latest creations that they were studying and she could feel Claire's amazement as she stared up at these creations.
However, more than once, Meteion caught her running off to speak with other researchers and to help them with various tasks—which Meteion found to be amazing that she could do all that they asked of her and so quickly. When she asked her about it, Claire just gave an awkward laugh and confessed that she was used to helping people out and it was no problem.
But it was more than that, Meteion was sure… she could feel how Claire's heart seemed to soar at the thought of helping others… just to brighten someone's day was enough to bring her happiness and Meteion adored those unexpected feelings all the more for it. Perhaps that was what inspired her to try and help Hermes now.
"Hermes likes and dislikes them, at the same time," Meteion explained, running her finger along one of the soft petals as the white seemed to twinkle a bit in the growing darkness. "Like me, they're entelechies. Like me, they feel his pain and turn dark…"
She could remember the first time that she saw it happen. How Hermes was explaining to her how her powers worked and as they talked… the flowers turned dark as he recalled his darker emotions. She could remember how his breath seemed to catch in his throat and how she felt herself turning happy to sad at the same moment.
She became sad just thinking about that day and muttered, "That's only for Hermes, though. For others, they're always white and bright."
"Elpis flowers…" she heard Claire say as she gazed down at the flowers, even taking a step back from them as if afraid for a moment.
Meteion glanced up at her, curious, and asked, "Claire…? Is something wrong?"
"Hmm? Oh, no it's nothing. Just that… where I come from, we have them too," she explained before her eyes looked away and became distant. Much like Hermes did when he was thinking about something that brought him pain. "And… I used to have one… it had been a gift… but… it turned dark. So dark that it… turned to ash in my hands."
"Truly?!" Meteion gasped as she stood up, staring at her as she realized what she was saying. "Then… Do you have it, too? A dark emotion?"
She knew that it was rude to ask such a question, Hermes would tell her that it was impolite to come right out and ask someone what they were feeling like that, but she just had to know. The way that Claire was able to play with her before… the way that she still smiled with such kindness would make one wonder. She never would have expected her to have any dark emotions from what she felt from before…?
But when she looked at Claire's face, how she looked away with that forced smile… she realized that it had to be true. Because it was the same look that Hermes always wore whenever something weighed upon his mind… whenever he was hurting inside and didn't wish for anyone else to know… or maybe didn't expect anyone else to understand.
Claire was silent for a moment before she shut her eyes and nodded.
"I've known the pain and sorrow of loss," she confessed quietly.
She did not elaborate but when she next opened her eyes, Meteion could see how much older her eyes looked. Another thing that she shared with Hermes—for despite his young face, his eyes always seemed to be so much older compared to everyone else whenever he was lost in darker memories.
That was when Meteion felt this painful ache inside her that accompanied a hollowness that was bottomless. It was a different kind of ache… but one just as powerful as the kind that seemed to follow Hermes around like a shadow.
She reached up to her chest and Claire looked on, realizing that she was feeling her pain and Meteion gazed back sadly.
"Hermes has known the same… The feeling that a part of you is gone. Again and again. But no one notices…" she explained softly to Claire before she looked back to the flowers and an idea came to her. Part of the reason that Hermes doesn't share his pain with anyone is that he doesn't think that anyone would understand… but if he could see that he's not the only person who feels that way… then perhaps…?
She nodded, a plan forming in her mind as she looked back to Claire and pleaded, "Please, Claire… Won't you lend it to me? Your pain and sorrow…"
Claire turned her head to look at her as she repeated slowly, not understanding, "Lend it to you?"
"The Elpis flower… I want you to make it dark, in front of Hermes," she asked and Claire seemed very hesitant about that idea. But Meteion pressed on as she explained, "Hermes… He has been in a dark place. Since before he created me."
This she knew all too well. She could remember those first few days she spent with him as she looked about Elpis and got to know more about Hermes and what they did here. According to her sisters before they left on their mission, they had long since felt Hermes suffering and it was an older kind of pain—one that had been there for a long time. Fresh pain was sharp and vivid… but old pain… it tended to fester and ache. Even as it looked like it faded with time, it was always there like a lingering scar. Hermes seemed to be carrying around such scars inside him and so she pleaded with Claire, "He needs to know… that he isn't alone. That others are sad, too."
She, of course, knows what emotions are but she can't express them like other people could. That was why even though she was hurting, it's not really her pain she felt… she still needs Claire to change the color of the flowers to show Hermes.
"Meteion, I'm…?" Claire began slowly, and Meteion could tell that she was very unsure about all this. Maybe even… a little afraid? For some reason, revealing emotions seemed to be very difficult for people at times. Hermes explained to her that it was because those emotions often come with bad memories and people try not to reflect on the bad ones if they could help it.
Meteion knew that she was asking a lot of Claire to remember these dark memories of hers, but she honestly believed that they would be able to help Hermes and he needed that help now more than ever.
She waited, pleading that Claire would agree as she thought it over. There was a turmoil of an emotional state inside her that seemed to spin… but in the end, they seemed to still and she nodded in agreement and Meteion felt a surge of relief at that.
"Oh, thank you, Claire!" she cried, now hopping up and down upon her clawed feet in anticipation before grabbing hold of her arm to eagerly pull her back to the Twelve Wonders to fetch Hermes.
Night had fully fallen as the two of them continued to wait outside the Hall of the Twelve Wonders for Hermes to join them. Meteion didn't want to wait though… she wanted to show Hermes the flowers right away.
She took a few deep breaths, remembering how Hermes always said how important it was for one to have patience. Instead, she turned and began to pepper Claire with more questions about the world that she had seen. Meteion, herself, had never been allowed to stray past the farthest islands here in Elpis and so this place was all she had ever known. Even her sisters had never seen the rest of Etheirys before they took their journey to the heavens; so Meteion was curious to know more about it.
Claire seemed to be tense when discussing this, but she told her about dungeons that were dank and dark as well as mountains that were so high they could reach the skies… she spoke of blue and white shores upon the ocean and of the many different flowers that grew in places around the world. She was even able to pull out a few flowers that she had saved on her journey and show them to her, which caused Meteion's eyes to lighten up at the sight. Claire explained how she liked to write of her adventures in her journal and even pressed flowers between the pages of places that she visited so they remained as pretty as the day that she found them. They were all so beautiful yet it wasn't until she pulled out a pouch of dried flowers that she truly saw how wondrous the outside world was.
"Though I think that you have some here, where I come from, these are from a flower called Nymeia Lilies," Claire explained as the sweet smell filled the air when she showed her the dried flowers. "I still have some over from… well, they were given to me by another traveler when he made it into potpourri."
"Wow! It smells so sweet!" Meteion said as Claire handed the little bundle over to her.
"A gift then, to my 'friend in thinness'," she told her fondly.
"Really?!" Meteion asked, with her eyes wide and Claire nodded and Meteion leapt up happily as she breathed in the wonderful scent once more.
"And these things will last for years," Claire promised. "But I'm sure they aren't that hard to make. So you can make your own potpourri with different flowers."
"Oh, can I?!" Meteion asked with amazement. "Can you teach me?!"
Claire laughed and told her she wasn't entirely sure about that but gave a quick discussion on what she knew of the process—how one had to mix the dried flowers, which Meteion nodded along eagerly. She couldn't wait to try making her own. They were having so much fun talking that she didn't notice right away that Hermes had arrived until she heard the door open and looked up to see him striving towards them.
As he did, she suddenly felt a wave of regret and sorrow emanating from him and her own spirits sank. He was unhappy… it seemed that the talk with the other researchers about the creations didn't go well. In fact, his thoughts were so far away that he didn't notice the two of them there until she called out to him.
"Oh… You were waiting for me," he said, finally noticing and coming over to greet them. She could see his smile but knew that it wasn't a real smile this time. She could feel just how distracted and tired he was all of a sudden.
But his voice still remained light as he thanked Claire for keeping her company all this time.
"Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus have already retired to their rooms. There is one for you too, if you would follow me…" he began as he started to turn away.
"Wait!" Meteion cried as she moved, stepping in front of him and preventing him from taking another step. When she realized that she all but cornered him, she became meek once more and instead told him hesitantly, "I… I want to show you something first!"
She felt Hermes's turmoil of emotions swirl about him as both confusion and surprise were mixed in now as well. He looked from her to Claire, who only gave a slight smile and a nod—not saying a word. Meteion could tell that Hermes wasn't in the mood to talk tonight, but she reached out and took his hand, silently speaking to him with her abilities… reassuring him that she just wanted to show him something.
She wasn't sure if he heard her—oftentimes people have trouble hearing her emotions as well—but he seemed to relax and nodded.
"Very well," he agreed at last, "I know that it's often rude to keep guests up late but if you both are sure…? I suppose we can stay up for a little longer. What is it that you wanted to show me?"
Meteion just smiled and led him away from the buildings. They took the same route that she and Claire took before, and sure enough she spotted the flowers in the shade of the boulder. She hoped that this would work… oh, it had to work! In her eagerness, she started to tug at Hermes's hand before he reassured her patiently, "Calm yourself, Meteion. What is it that has you so worked up over?"
She just grinned as she let go of his hand and brought him and Claire back to the tiny patch of Elpis flowers that seemed to sparkle in the starlight above them. Set there as if they had been waiting for them.
Hermes looked from her, wondering what was going on, before he spotted the flowers, having not been sure what he was expecting.
"Elpis flowers…?" he asked them and she could feel that he had been aware that there was a small patch growing here and was now baffled to why they were showing him. Meteion just took a deep breath before she looked to Claire.
"Go on!" she urged her and Claire nodded before she bent down next to the flowers. Meteion watched how she looked at them long and hard before closing her eyes.
That was when she felt it.
There was a hollow pain in her chest as a storm of emotion like dark clouds began to roll about inside her friend. They were heavy and obscure… like a suffocating weight that seemed to come baring down upon her. Along with it was a pain so terrible that it was as if something sharp was clawing at her insides, fighting to get out… and a sorrow so deep that it was as a pit where one could not see the bottom. Grief… the pain of departure… such pain… such sorrow… she lost something—no, many somethings—important to her. And a vast loneliness that she felt even when she was surrounded by everyone else.
It was agony to feel it even just for a moment.
But Claire was feeling all of that right now as whatever memories played themselves inside her mind… and sure enough, the flowers changed their color from the pretty white to that of a purple so dark that they looked black.
She heard Hermes gasp slightly at the sight as Claire looked up at him. Meteion, who had been watching Hermes, now felt only a stunned shock from him at the sight of the darkened flowers.
"You're not the only one, Hermes," she told him softly. "Others… feel sad, too. You're… not alone."
Hermes remained in that state of shock as it seemed to push all of his other emotions away for the moment while he tried to find his voice. He remained silent, as if he didn't know what to say, but his eyes turned from the flowers to Claire as she stood up.
"I… see Meteion has shared much with you," he said at last, as if that was all that he could say.
No one said anything and the emotions she was picking up from them both were so confusing that she wasn't sure what was going on. But then, the shock seemed to thaw away from Hermes heart as a new warmth began to take root. A fondness that Hermes rarely felt for anything outside his work… but this warmth seemed to spread through his chest and filled every corner of his being as he lifted his hand to remove his mask.
Meteion was surprised by this rare event. Aside from visitors, everyone here were only allowed to leave their cowls off while they worked but were still expected to keep their masks. To reveal one's bare face was something that was incredibly uncommon for it was a sign of vulnerability that most felt when asked to remove them. Much less to another familiar or even a creation?
But she had always liked it those few times Hermes was able to remove his mask and she could see his face. But he was smiling at them both as this new feeling seemed to bring to him a lightness that she could not remember seeing Hermes have for such a long time. Like a terrible weight had been lifted from his mind. He understood that he wasn't the only one sad any longer, that he didn't have to feel as alone as he first thought, and when he removed his mask he was showing himself for who he truly was for this moment.
Meteion smiled jubilantly at that before she whispered to Claire with excitement, "It worked!"
Claire didn't seem to understand how big this was, but she smiled back, where Meteion could feel that she was glad that she could help them.
A soft hum seemed to come from Hermes's soul as he looked on at the pair of them with those kind eyes. He then drifted over to Claire and asked, "May we… talk a moment?"
Claire nodded before Hermes looked to Meteion and added, "I wish to share a few words with Claire. Why don't you go and observe some of the fireflies for me? Afterwards, I think that it will be bed for all of us."
Meteion could tell that he really wanted to talk more with Claire about what he just saw and she nodded, glad that he was able to find someone to talk too. She skipped off to do as he told her—but though she could no longer hear what they were talking about, she still stayed close enough to them that they were in sight. Hermes often warned her not to wander off where he couldn't see her in case something tried to attack.
She let the two of them talk as she chased the twinkling insects and watched the tiny creations scatter and play about in the tall grass. Many of these creations liked to come out at night, nocturnal was what Hermes called them, and so at night is often the only time she can see them.
As she gazed up at the tiny lights she could feel Hermes and Claire's emotions behind her almost like a tiny flame. There was something soothing about it and it seems that Hermes could feel it as well. He seemed to take comfort in having Claire around. It was as if there was some kind of wall between him and others that he was slowly allowing to fall down as they spoke. His dread and anxiety seemed to have melted away to leave a more contented emotion—there was still pain there, but it was muted now in a way that, not fully healed, but no longer bleeding.
After a time, Hermes called out to her, telling her it was time to return. And when he did call out, she could feel a new relief from him which she liked at once. She did it! She was able to find a way to help him for the first time! It felt so good to know that she was able to do so and hoped that she could help him every time from now on.
But she suspected that there would only be one way to remove that pain for good.
As she returned to them, she paused for a moment to look up at the sky that was full of stars. Once her sisters finished their mission and were able to answer his questions…? Then maybe he could finally be truly happy.
"You're smiling more than usual, Meteion," Hermes commented as he gently patted her head as they walked back. "I take it you had a good day?"
Meteion had followed Hermes back to their regular resting quarters at this point, entering the building to the glow of the lanterns that were waiting for them.
Meteion wished that she could have played a bit longer, but she understood how important it was for one to get their sleep. She didn't need sleep necessarily, but Hermes had granted her a way that she can curl up and enter hibernation to help conserve energy if she needed to. Most familiars were able to shut down whenever and wherever they were told, but Hermes had given her a room here right next to his, and he escorted her into said room.
There wasn't much here save for a desk filled with all manner of things that Meteion had collected over the years. Such as feathers from various bird creations that she thought were pretty, colorful crystals and stones, and flower petals scattered about. It was rather messy, but Meteion always cooed when she saw them and would excitedly remind Hermes of the special days when she acquired these, which always caused him to smile at the memories.
Aside from this there was a small bed with a blue blanket that was underneath a window that revealed the beautiful night sky and the stars that Meteion would spend hours gazing up. As soon as they entered, Hermes waved his hand so that a dim light of the lantern hanging from the ceiling cast everything in a soft glow and Meteion eagerly leapt onto the bed.
Hermes chuckled at seeing how happy she was as Meteion hugged her pillow in delight.
A little bit earlier, before coming back here, Hermes had guided Claire to a small room that was given to guests. Like with Meteion's room, there wasn't much there save the bed, desk, and a water basin that Hermes filled to the brim for her with clear, cool water.
After learning that she was able to eat normal food, he promised that he would also send someone to bring a meal to her as he had done for Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus if she was hungry. Hermes also stated that if she needed anything at all, to please ask any of the researchers and just give them his name if there were any problems. She thanked them for thinking of her and reassured them that this was more than enough.
"You… will be alright?" Meteion asked, not wanting to say goodnight yet.
Claire merely beamed back at her and promised that they will play some more tomorrow and that she would tell her more stories if she would like. At that, Meteion's eyes lit up and she leapt up and down in excitement as she chirped how much she would love it. She could feel Claire's fondness for her at seeing how much joy she was in, which only made Meteion even happier. What a good day it had been!
"Yes!" she cried out, unable to hold back her own glee as Hermes sat down on the edge of the bed to watch her. "Claire taught me so much today! We even played games while you were speaking with the others. I had a lot of fun! I want to play with her more tomorrow!"
He laughed at that and brushed her bangs from her face as he let her talk happily about her day.
"Is that so? Well, I'm glad that she seems to be a good influence on you," he told her. "So long as she doesn't mind then neither do I if she accompanies us tomorrow. It is good to see you both get along so well."
"She's so different from everyone, but she is more like me!" Meteion told him. "She is like me… but also, not like me. So she really isn't an Entelechy?"
"Hmmm," Hermes mused inquisitional. "That is a good question. Her aether is just as thin as yours, and while it seems that she is able to interact with Dynamis to a certain degree… it doesn't appear to be the case that she is an Entelechy. She seems to be more… in-between a regular person and an Entelechy. I must confess that to see those Elpis blooms turn dark like that…? It took me by surprise. I cannot remember ever seeing them turn dark for any other save myself."
"Yeah," Meteion said softly as she thought of more of what she felt in that moment when Claire knelt beside the flowers. "I felt it… her pain and sorrow… her loneliness and fear… it was a lot like how you felt, Hermes."
"Is that so?" he asked a little absent-mindedly. "One can't help but wonder what it was that she was thinking of. But I know this, for those flowers to turn dark like that, they must truly be painful memories."
To hear that, made Meteion feel sadness once more and she wished, again, that there was something she could do to help them with their pain. But how was she to do that?
"How long will she be staying here? Can she stay for longer?" Meteion asked curiously and he tilted his head at that.
"I'm afraid that is up to her," he answered. "She isn't a creation sent here for study after all… rather it seems that she came here for another reason—though it is a bit of a mystery what that reason is. According to Hythlodaeus, she is the familiar of Azem, another member of the Convocation like Emet-Selch. I never had the pleasure to meet Azem in person, at least not yet, but I've heard more than a few rumors about her. If even half of them are true, then I suppose it's not so surprising that her familiar is… different."
"Really?" Meteion asked, wondering about this 'Azem' person and Hermes nodded.
"As far as I know, a concept hasn't been submitted yet…?" he said but she shook her head.
"No, I don't want a concept like her, I want her here," Meteion frowned. She wanted her friend here with them, not for Hermes to make her a new one.
"Now, Meteion," he said soothingly to her. "I never said otherwise. But know that there is a good chance she will have to leave sooner rather than later. However, I'm sure that we can ask Claire to come back to visit us from time to time. And even if she has other duties as Azem's familiar, from what I heard, Azem is not the type to turn down those in need. I'm sure that if she were to learn how attached you have become to Claire then she wouldn't have any problems in allowing her to visit us here when she's not busy."
This seemed like a good idea and she perked up immediately at the suggestion and nodded back as Hermes chuckled.
"Good, I'm sure that when she is getting ready to leave Elpis we can talk to her more about it," he reassured her. "More than anything, I'm glad to see that you were able to make a new friend. Tell me, you mentioned you played games…?"
Meteion happily began to tell him all about how she led her around Elpis and of some of her favorite things. She showed her the potpourri that Claire gifted to her, filling the room with its sweet scent. Hermes was fascinated by the idea of keeping flowers in such a way and promised that they would look into make their own if she liked. But he seemed to be surprised by the 'games' that Claire played with her.
"You were chasing each other around and tickling each other?" he repeated before he laughed. "My, that would have been a sight! And you enjoyed this?"
Meteion beamed at him and nodded as she answered, "Claire and I… I wanted to be her friend! And now, I think we are! Isn't this what friends do?"
"Well, while I never heard of these games before, yes, that is what friends do," he reassured her. "Friends are when we enjoy the company of another. And for children, as well as very playful familiars it seems, they often run and play with each other."
Meteion laughed and then asked, "Will you join us next time, Hermes?"
The sudden question took him aback and she felt the sudden flux of surprise and a little embarrassment rise up inside him.
"I… well, I would hate to interrupt while you are enjoying yourselves," he said but she was confused by the emotions inside him that didn't seem to match up with his words.
"You… like being with her too though, don't you? You are friends too, yes?" she asked and Hermes was startled this time by her question.
"Well, that's… I mean… I feel…?" he stuttered and fell silent. He frowned as he thought it all over. "I suppose that is one way to put it. I can't deny I feel a kinship with her… for when we spoke earlier, she seemed to understand exactly what I was feeling. That has never happened before. It was… comforting to have her nearby."
He sighed before he patted Meteion on the head once more as he added, "Regardless, it is good to have such kind individuals come to visit us. But it is getting late and we should retire for now. Tomorrow is a new day and you will want to have energy to play again."
"Yes!" she chirped, bouncing on her knees on the bed as he laughed at her antics. "Hermes, can I have another blanket?"
She felt his relaxed coyness as he reminded her, "Meteion, you can't feel cold, remember? I made you that way so that the Great Expanse won't bother you."
"Yes, but you like the feeling of a warm blanket," she pointed out and he shrugged at that before he held up his hand. He was aware that it was his own fondness for the feeling of a warm blanket at night that made her like them so much and creating blankets only used up the tiniest amount of aether anyway.
"Oh, very well," he agreed, "Another blue one?"
But she shook her head and instead asked, "Pink!"
She could see how his eyes blinked behind his mask as a rush of understanding went through him. She wanted a blanket the same shade as Claire's long, pink hair.
He chuckled once more as he created one identical to the blue one she had already, save for the color, and wrapped it around her shoulders as she giggled.
"There you go," he told her fondly. "Now, you should go ahead and hibernate until sunrise. We'll be having a big day tomorrow."
"Yes," she chirped up gratefully, snuggling into her new blanket. "Good night, Hermes."
(Oh, Meteion. She is such a sweetie and that is what makes what happens to her all the more tragic. At this point, she doesn't know what is waiting for her. As of right now, she has a kind of hero admiration for Claire and having her around is a comfort to her and Hermes. Too bad that next chapter is the beginning of the end for her.)
