A Craving for Company (Zriracha)

The guilt still weighed on her heavily, despite everything she tried… With a solemn sigh, Zriracha could feel her power return to her in its entirety after weeks of recovery. Meeting with Zuqetta after so long and being able to, for the most part, catch up with what the ambitious young girl was up to had been a much needed reprieve after her isolation. With all the evidence of her failure now thoroughly hidden away, Zriracha was left with the actual hard part of the entire fiasco.

Explaining where she was and how to somehow get back in her daughters’ good graces. She could only imagine the feeling of resentment that her wayward daughter held after being left on her own for so long. While she truly felt regret for her selfish decision to isolate and wait out the Contract Recoil, Zriracha felt that being weak in front of Zerori would have no doubt caused even worse trauma to her. Regardless… Taking to the Borgo Bluffs where she and her daughter had trained with Mayze and Pitt so many weeks ago was meant to help her think clearly about her next actions. As she approached, however, something… rather someone odd was present amongst its various peaks.

Curiouser and curiouser, the Satyr woman floated to where she could feel the energy radiate, ignoring the brusque and beating winds before she finally spied… Polaris? Surprised to see such a figure on Plant after their last meeting months ago, Zriracha could only hope that his presence on the planet did not bring ill omens.

Well… ill omens for her, anyway.

“It’s not often that I see an Arcosian on Plant. Even less often that I see you,” Zriracha called out to the gargantuan form of Polarus. Gracefully, she landed a fair distance from him upon the mountain he’d chosen and, briefly, found herself grateful he’d chosen the tallest peak. Her inner capra had been unintentionally sated, though she imagined he shared no such desire. Her head cocked to the side as she approached closer, “Since when did you decide to visit this home of the Saiyans? Not to pry, though I won’t deny myself the opportunity for answers… but this is hardly adequate territory, is it not? Unless this isn’t a ‘business trip’, I take it...” She kept a smile on her face to present herself as non-threatening as possible, just in case she had inadvertently crossed a line since last they'd met.

Polarus was, as always, a charming man seemingly always at play. That he had been otherwise occupied for a large portion of time was not alarming or out of the ordinary. That he was here, upon Plant, was the topic that she was most curious about. Still, perhaps she’d come off a little strong and needed to dial it back a bit. It was mere moments before Zriracha would change her tactics of approach that Polarus would actually confess to being able to trust her, a declaration that actually managed to shock the Satyr woman as her eyes widened just a little. She knew they’d ‘hit it off’ so to speak, but trust? She listened, her suspicions of there being some innate reason for his arrival confirmed; that it was Ise was something she wasn’t expecting. That one has the mark of a grand destiny, I can feel it. What will you accomplish, I wonder…? Zriracha mused.

She gave an understanding nod to the Arcosian, knowing better than to push where it was not wanted and thankful for the clue, “Of course. I have not been as involved as I would like to be as of late, but I know the pains of losing a parent must take on a child. Consider the topic settled and my curiosity sated, Polaris,” Zriracha finished amicably.

Prepared to end the conversation out of respect, Zriracha didn’t expect the rather imposing Arcosian to approach her, dare she assume a smile, and then proceed to ask her the very same question in response. For a moment, she was speechless and confused before finding it in herself to be just as glib, “Now, now - a lady must keep her secrets, yes?” She retorted with a wry smile before giving a laugh in good fun. He had been honest with her and Zriracha was beholden to give the same…

She gave a melancholic sigh before confessing, “I am at a loss for what to do. Aimless, one could say. Mistakes and consequences one and the same have come to dance among my regrets,” Crossing her arms, Zriracha huffed through her nose before finally admitting the truth out loud. “I broke the promise I made to my daughter and never knew I had done so until my body was falling apart,” The sensation of her body changing from the recoil of her own seal magic… It was as horrific as it was painful and she hoped to never experience such a thing again. “Only recently have I recovered but the damage has already been done. My cowardly self was so ashamed at what I had become as a result that I-... I couldn’t let my daughter see. And now, weeks of abandonment having passed - I fear she has coped without me in the only way a child can… I fear she does not need my presence, nor desire it any longer.”

An expression of disgust and disdain on her face, Zriracha could only keep her gaze locked to the snowy ground as if she were not admitting her flaws to a near stranger. She couldn’t explain this feeling of candidness, but she also couldn’t she wasn’t grateful for whatever magnetism Polarus possessed.

She wasn’t bothered by his approach, nor by the unexpected touch as he knelt on the ground before her - she may in fact found some feminine satisfaction in the act - but it did surprise her and prompt the satyr woman to look up from the snow and blink up at him. Even kneeling he was… of a formidable height. His words washed over her like the crest of a gentle and warm wave, taking comfort in not just the subject but of how refined he spoke. Truly, Arcosians (perhaps not all) were of a different caliber than most. Still, she couldn’t help the sudden sensation of distaste in herself as Polarus expressed how perplexed he was by her feelings.

He wasn’t wrong, by any length of the imagination, that being with one’s child was the most important facet of being a parent… but was it possible to be TOO involved and constrict said child in a bid to teach them and bring them to greatness? With another sigh, Zriracha brought a hand up to cover one of Polarus’ on her shoulder before shaking her head, “I am grateful for your words and insist that you keep that confidence high,'' She laughed, watching him readjust to be more at her height. It must have been quite humbling to be on one’s knees before a Demon such as herself but she was hardly going to tease him for it.

With a single shrug of her shoulders, Zriracha decided that perhaps… telling the story in particular would yield the best results and he’d offered so much already to deserve such an honor.

“To start… Demons are infernal creatures that possess many abilities that one would find as unnatural. Such is the way of our existence since before time,” She started as if she were merely narrating a documentary. “One such ability is that we are able to create contracts. With anyone really, but our clan has never had the best experiences when it comes to mortals,” Just recalling how much pain her daughter had been in was making the cool expression she tried to maintain crack in the wake of her words. “My daughter, though young as she is, made a contract at my request with a most chaotic man known as ‘Yangcong’ and… as expected, he did not fulfill his end of the contract that was dictated to him.” She swallowed, closing her eyes.

It was her fault her daughter felt the recoil of the contract being voided. She knew that and believed such an experience was necessary.

“Contract recoil is a painful and messy business, expressing itself in a different way with each Demon depending on the severity of the contract,” She continued with as much strength as she could muster. “Yet, in my ignorance, I failed to take into consideration my own contract with my daughter. One made the moment that we’d left Hell and came to the Mortal Realms. I promised to keep her from harm and, when I realized that Yangcong had broken the contract and Zerori was in pain… it was only a matter of time before the Powers at Play made it very clear that I had done the same to my daughter.”

With what courage she had, she looked up at Polarus, “In a bid to keep such a failing from daughter, I kept myself scarce until the effects of the recoil had passed. To go from being always around each other to… to ignoring her for weeks must have hurt her in ways I had not realized. I am recovered but Zerori has found her own company, as she should of course, but you can see how I may have made some… detrimental mistakes.”

In spite of how morose Zriracha had felt, Polarus’ first response about mortals actually got a bit of a laugh out of her - equal parts amusement and agreement, You’re not wrong there, She lamented silently and not wanting to possibly interrupt. As he stood, her own hand over his keeping him from standing to his full height, Zriracha listened with rapt attention as he did his best to comfort her. The results were… messy, and not quite as successful as she was sure he expected it to be if the way her face fell a little during his words were any indication, but she was well aware of how he was trying.

She knew the kind of pain she’d been putting her daughter in; going so far as to expect Yangcong to betray that trust for the express purpose of Zerori feeling the pain of recoil. The point was a lesson. However, it was the very end result of the lesson that had Zriracha lose track of how she was going about it. AKA: Wrong!

Still, she was let down gently, the thought that her daughter would ever want to do right by her was everything she ever wanted. Zerori was powerful. Smart. Resourceful above it all and Zriracha knew that she didn’t deserve her. She was determined, however. Determined to give everything to her daughter to make her every bit as strong as she knew she could be. With a smile on her face, bittersweet as it was, Zriracha gently squeezed Polarus’ hand to assure him that his words were (as the very least) comforting her in their own unique way.

He was finished, however, as he would soon take her hand into both of his as he spoke with a conviction of such density that even her own eyes widened in surprise. Hammering home how much the guilt she carried was unnecessary, Zriracha’s eyes searched over his face as she allowed the words to wash over her. ...I wish I could believe it, Zriracha thought, knowing that the culture of their people and the present taboos among them were at war within her when it came to motherhood. “Th-” She swallowed, her throat choked with what fell like a ball of raw emotion that she had to clear her throat to try again, “Thank you, Polarus,”

As he made to loosen his grip, Zriracha would gently take hold of his again and reiterate more clearly, “I will. Talk to her. Now that my ailment has granted me mercy, it… I won’t waste any more time. As you say, surely she will understand,” Her next action, whether it would be taken in stride or possibly out of turn, would be comprised of her bringing the back of his larger hand to her lips and giving him a gentle kiss full of gratitude against his skin - if he allowed it.

The entire time she kept her gaze upon his face however, still cheekily greedy for the unpredictability of the chaos it might elicit; even as vulnerable as she was, some things about her nature never truly changed. Patiently, she waited to see if he had anything else to add. It was the least she could do given the kindness he'd gifted her so far.

She had expected some kind of recoil or perhaps even some reciprocation (if Polarus were the type to be so bold) but the Satyr woman took just as much enjoyment in the manner in which he stammered from surprise. The honorific was also a satisfying icing on the cake as his gentlemanly nature (that she was starting to associate with only him) had her grinning like a cat that got the cream right at him. In record time that impressed even her, Polaris was able to regain enough of his composure to present himself as the cold leader she was sure he intended to be. She’d keep this memory to herself, either on a cold, lonely day or when she was around her daughter in much better circumstances.

The more he spoke, however, the easier it became to see just how flustered she’d made him and Zriracha laughed softly at his attempt to retain decorum, “My apologies, Lord Polarus,” She continued to tease, though it was still out of affection. “You’ve given me much to think on and a veritable reservoir of confidence that I could not help but give you something in return and I-” Pausing in her words as Polarus leaned down into a bow, Zriracha would find herself in very nearly the exact situation she’d put him in… with a unique flair of his own added in.

Her eyes would widen as the covering of his mouth that she’d assumed was merely armor or even a natural part of his face had lowered down to reveal a nose and lips - lips that pressed to the back of her own hands mere seconds later. The action shouldn’t have moved her as much as it did, yet something was there that she’d not felt before since… well, since Zerori’s father. With a rise in temperature visible upon her face, though one might have to look a bit closer upon her naturally red skin, Zriracha would release a small scoff laughter before she leered at him with a beguiling grin, “Well done,” She praised almost silently, even as she gave a nod at his parting words.

Her daughter would wait for no one, herself included. “Until we meet again, Lord Polarus,” She spoke with genuine gratitude, no longer feeling as the title should be a tease any longer. He’d made his mark, whatever his intentions, and she accepted it. All said and done, she would turn from him but pause a moment before speaking lastly, “I will visit you again, hopefully. Keep a torch on, will you?” She beseeched, an almost melancholy sound to her voice before she opened a portal of her own with a wave of her hand and stepped through.

She had no more time to waste.