Oh hey what do you know I was talking with FD about Aerzio’s ascension and how he’d be able to see and how OS and FD never met face to face before he was blinded and whoops I wrote a stupid thing about that big shy idiot!
Rochen blushed and stared into the mirror, unbuttoning her hood and tugging it down. Should… should she leave it like this? She smoothed down her bangs nervously, turning her head this way and that. If she left her hood down, you could see more of her face, but on the other hand her hair was kind of messy from being under the fabric so maybe she should pull it back up!?
She sighed as she pulled it back on and refastened the buttons around her horns. They were looking a bit dull, too… maybe she hadn’t gotten enough water? Oh gosh, did she have anything to polish them up a bit!? What would he think!?
“ooh goosh, what am i evenn…” Rochen let out a long sigh, blushing harder. “…t-this is… c-coompletely ridicuuloouus…!”
But even as she admitted it, she turned again, inspecting her appearance for every small flaw. She couldn’t help herself… she wanted to give Aerzio the best first impression possible.
She hadn’t seen him since his ascension, not a proper meeting anyway. Rochen had been there, had seen Skaia shining, had even watched him from afar as he laid eyes on Denreo for the first time. But she’d fled before he’d turned towards her, and she’d been hiding ever since.
It was impossible for her to hide forever, Rochen knew that…! He was going to be coming home to her hive any minute now, and he’d definitely notice something was up if she didn’t greet him…
Her cheeks went a deeper shade of jade, and she clutched her skirt, trembling slightly. Why… why had she never realized it before? When Gramma had ascended, she’d returned from her grimdark state; Zenrak had gotten the limbs he’d long lost. Even Cathal had recovered from the sickness that had infected his mind. It was only natural that when Aerzio ascended, he’d be able to see.
“…why did i cuut it soo shoort…!?” She tugged down her skirt, twirling slightly, then pulled up her socks. It had been so cute for so long but suddenly she felt… wrong. Embarrassed. Oh god, what was he going to THINK!? And her wings were so small and plain compared to the colors of Denreo’s or the shimmer of Gramma’s or even Myrica’s delicate patterns…!
Rochen flushed harder, swallowing back tears. It was stupid, she knew, but if he looked at her… if his expression changed to disappointment… it… it was really too scary.
There was a sound in the room behind her, and she spun, clutching her skirt. If she listened carefully, she could hear his voice. He was commenting on her hive, calling for her. Maybe it wasn’t too late for her to turn and flee. Her hive was certainly large enough to keep out of sight for as long as she wanted…
“…a-ah…” Rochen swallowed, tugging her hood down over her eyes and slipping to the doorway, trembling as she peeked out. “…w-welcoome hoome, z-zioo. i-it’s… i-it’s nnice t-too s-see yoouu…!”