Amalia
the shield of safrin
It's a good thing she has already sat down, because otherwise she might have gone to stand behind him, fueled by curiosity and insecurity and a sudden, devilish sense of what in Vi's name were you thinking? She tries not to stare as he opens the box, her heel tapping anxiously on the floor, fingers creeping over her wrist. Anticipation and hopeful delight creep across her face as she peers between the small item and his face, striving and failing to appear nonchalant, like it doesn't matter to her what he thinks.The object inside is a little globe, glass wrapped around a carefully crafted image of a stormy sea. It rests on a stand of wood and gears, a dial at the bottom winding up the thing she thought so magical. "I wasn't sure who I would give it to, but then you said you like music and..." Trailing off, the Shield waits for judgment to be cast. Will he like the song the music box plays, the way it catches the light?
Leopard ears have risen, unbidden, on her skull, and curls of lilac spiral among the gold of her hair. Oh, and now she's staring again, intensity in her sharp black eyes. Abruptly the Shield turns to the food, setting about serving plates.
someday we'll find what we're looking for
or maybe not
maybe we'll find something much greater
