ɴᴇᴡ ʙᴇɢɪɴɴɪɴɢs
☀
She stepped off that ship as if the dry land had been there for her thousands of times before. It was the start of new beginnings; new outreach, and most importantly, new life. The last time she'd been here was still fresh on her mind. Four, no- five, years ago. Under reigns of terror, and shackles upon the dead. But the past meant nothing now; it was time to turn over a new leaf.
Maria chuckled to herself as she explored the ever-changing city once again, for the self-proclaimed Silver Sea's Banshee had returned to her home.
Though this time without purpose, merely out of grief. Not out of the need for wealth as for the first time, or for vengeance she had satisfied the second. That simply wasn't the case at all. What brought this familiar Eriu, and her unfamiliar and inexperienced offspring was that of a broken heart.
Mavis, her dearest sister, had finally gotten back in touch with her. She had grown from twelve to fifteen at their reunion. Unaware of the new life Maria had ripped away from her chest. They settled down within a quaint little home among the Yanar. A bustling house of three women and a toddler. There was Mavis, Annabelle, Maria's own blinded stepchild. And Lyza, Tytus' offspring she was left with four years before.
The home might have been small and the area peaceful, but for this rambunctious household that simply wouldn't do. With the mix of screaming and cursing, to laughing and falling. Petal court had become the loudest it had ever been.
Though despite the company of her family, a settled life was never met for her. Not at this age, at the very least. Maria often held her oldest to watching the youngest. She had planned to search the city gravel for the friends she had picked up those many years ago. Disappointingly she came up empty handed, landing herself into a Gauntlet barstool between a conversation with a familiar enemy, a snippy frostling, and an annoying half-elf.
Fate would have it for these three to be her first new companions, of course, she'd never admitted such. But nevertheless, they became more worthy to her along with time.
A lesson to be learned with each new person who pushed through her built walls. These weren't like the friends that had taken up her time forcefully in a toxic manner. Not the friends that were full of bloodlust and greed. They were the little short haired carpenter on Dragonbend, the Witchblood half-elf next door that took care of the girls, the Prince of Accusers and his right hand, the party animal Blackhawk with the habit of getting overly intoxicated along with his sidekick half-varran with the most joyful laugh. And more recently, the outcast who sided with everyone at most times, a forgiving half-elf.
These were people, with real love and emotions to share. This wasn't the Silver Seas anymore, this was home. And with a home only more came through to be apart of her growing heart.
With the Nestled Nook came Silver, an old friend returned from the ashes. Making the usually spastic redhead soften at the mere approach of the white-haired woman. The only redeemable person from her past life in Regalia had appeared in a flash to help her when she needed it most. Along with her came the growing staff, and of course adding into the mess of a family that was the Nestled Nook. She adored each and every one of them, even if she didn't say it out loud. Maybe there was a non-verbal way of showing her appreciation to the people she felt so safe within.
She'll surely think about that.
How could m̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶
she of all people end up so lucky this time around?
__
Maria took a long stare over the parchment that laid over her desk. Her face conflicted as she read it over and over again. "Heh. Can't be havin' them think I like 'em or somethin'. Guess I'm jus' gonna-..." before she could even finish her sentence, she ripped the page from the book. Crumbling it into a little paper ball and throwing it forward into the fire as Mavis peaked from the bar area of the Nestled Nook.
"Hey, Maria! We could use ya in 'ere when yer done throwin' shit around."
A smile stretched over her features, sliding up to her feet.
"Watch yer language. I'm comin'.. I'm comin'."
