03-17-2020, 08:24 PM
Her scowl does not change drastically when the dark filly stands up on glimmering hooves, it does not change much when she smiles, a bit absent, a bit hesitant, like she does not really understand what is being offered. She doesn't, of course. How can she, so young? Neverwhere hums gruffly at nobody and lifts her head high, turning this way and that once again for the child's guardian, but none are forthcoming. If any were watching, they would be atop them by now, furious, but no hooves break the buzzing silence around them.
There really are only two options.
Well, no, there are three, but the third is the most cruel, to leave her here defenseless except for the scolding lights. She looks to the child again and considers how ill-prepared she is. What do you offer a child? She cannot find it in her to be what she is not, to speak sweetly, but there is a limit to what the girl may understand at this point and Neverwhere, gruff and unused to children, is incapable of knowing where that line is drawn. Does the girl even know she caused that twist of air? Perhaps not, though it's hard to go by the expression when the filly's eyes are simply faceted stone. It is... unnerving and every time she seems to look directly into the dappled mare's eyes, Nev's belly clenches, the muscles of her jaw growing tight and rippling the skin of her cheek.
"Prettier than Ghaul, at least," she grumbles softly to herself, considering the way his ram horns burst from the sockets where his eyes ought to be, but then she reconsiders. Perhaps this is how he began, too, perhaps the child's eyes will grow and curl as his do. She frowns, and then she shrugs. Probably still be prettier, as these things go. So how to convince her to make the long trip from here to the North?
"You are... hungry?"
Children get hungry, right? No, that's a stupid question. Of course they do. Probably.
"We will find you something to eat," there is a confidence in her voice that doesn't fill her heart. Lies. Maybe they will. "Do you have a name?"
There really are only two options.
Well, no, there are three, but the third is the most cruel, to leave her here defenseless except for the scolding lights. She looks to the child again and considers how ill-prepared she is. What do you offer a child? She cannot find it in her to be what she is not, to speak sweetly, but there is a limit to what the girl may understand at this point and Neverwhere, gruff and unused to children, is incapable of knowing where that line is drawn. Does the girl even know she caused that twist of air? Perhaps not, though it's hard to go by the expression when the filly's eyes are simply faceted stone. It is... unnerving and every time she seems to look directly into the dappled mare's eyes, Nev's belly clenches, the muscles of her jaw growing tight and rippling the skin of her cheek.
"Prettier than Ghaul, at least," she grumbles softly to herself, considering the way his ram horns burst from the sockets where his eyes ought to be, but then she reconsiders. Perhaps this is how he began, too, perhaps the child's eyes will grow and curl as his do. She frowns, and then she shrugs. Probably still be prettier, as these things go. So how to convince her to make the long trip from here to the North?
"You are... hungry?"
Children get hungry, right? No, that's a stupid question. Of course they do. Probably.
"We will find you something to eat," there is a confidence in her voice that doesn't fill her heart. Lies. Maybe they will. "Do you have a name?"
Neverwhere
...
