though she's picked up things here and there, the clothing she owns now is purely for practicality (except for a few skimpier things, but that's not so much for her). there's not much time to miss her material things, especially when her more elaborate garb would make her stick out like a sore thumb in nameless. (granted, she still already kinda does that.)

but tonight is different. a thrift store find she'd been dying to try on ripples over her supple arms, the curves of her wiry frame. she'd had to abandon her choker, as it rubbed uncomfortably against the metal neckline of the dress, but rayquaza's black scale glints darkly under her collar. 

when she'd first met mei, she hadn't liked her very much. it had been an unwelcome surprise, learning just how deeply possessive she is of king. to herself, she swears she's shaken it. after all, she does enjoy mei's company, now that she's gotten to know her. 

freya dodges the afternoon drunks who should have left hours ago, though the night's still young, and draws herself neatly into the stool beside mei.

"i'm bad for business, you know," she says dryly, the corner of her lips quirking in a smile. 

Mei Liu
< fancy >

☉

normally she would be content to watch king's fighting. if she were in her normal trousers and shirt, she may even have joined him. though, most of their sessions end up inevitably pulling him away from the bar and upstairs to their flat. but as it stands, she has done neither tonight, mostly because she'd like to wear this dress a little bit longer than just shy of an hour, and watching him fight bare-chested could weaken that resolve.

he's the problem. 

she turns in her chair, but his lips and his nose are suddenly wet on her cheek. her nose scrunches, teeth showing, but her gaze sweeps hungrily over him as he rounds the bar.

she glowers at his comment, annoyed at the rise he gets out of her. pointedly, she turns her attention to mei. 

"on my mind? mm, well now i'm considering a new job." she simpers. "king, mei says i'd make for a good escort if not for you. and you do look fabulous, by the way."

she rolls pale eyes back over to king and holds out a hand at the offer of drinks. "yes please, bartender."

Mei Liu KING WAYLAND

☉

"oh, you do now?" she simpers at his jesting. pale eyes drink in his form in a way that might be unbecoming, but she knows mei certainly doesn't mind. it's the babe that does her in, though. they're not often for pet names; a cherry heat smatters the bridge of her nose and she moves to fluidly hide it with a sip of her whiskey. 

braided tresses slip onto the bar, glass empty and placed back on a napkin as her forearm slides to support her slouching weight. freya's focus snaps together all at once. she's used to mei's fishing for information. 

they tend to mutually benefit from dancing on opposite sides. as much as she has come to think of her and king, and by extension, their affiliations, as an island, faction wars still somehow mosey their way under their noses. 

"i don't," she says honestly. "have you been into the rifts yourself?" 

she shivers. the ultra deep sea still calls to her. 

KING WAYLAND Mei Liu

☉

the ultra deep sea has not been kind to her. every venture she's gone deeper, sinking into that lovelorn keening of whatever monster lay waiting at the bottom of its depths. she has seen her flesh twist and riddle like coral. she has known horrible pain, intestines spilling out from her. 

and yet it still pales in comparison to her expedition into the border. her first expedition.

where illeana reyes had found ALEXANDER STONE, she had found the wraithlike spirit of her alter-self. she had found her mother. not sophia. not theodore. her mother.

and she has not returned because of this very reason.

"me too," she says with a grimace. "but i'm well acquainted with the one you mentioned, the ultra deep sea, too. by granite cave." she traces some of the whorls on the bartop, skin prickling. "it messes with your head. makes you paranoid."

Mei Liu KING WAYLAND

☉

she frowns at the both of them, but there's little point in arguing. she's always had an unhealthy desire to put herself in, mmm, slightly dangerous situations. you don't exactly get to be a region-renowned dragon tamer by playing it safe. her fingers flex, whiskey doing something funny to her nerve endings. 

inhibitions lowered as they are, with a soft smattering of heat already on her pale cheeks, she cannot contain the venomous envy that scrunches her nose and narrows her eyes (and yes, adds more pink to her cheeks) when mei blows king a kiss. most unfortunate is she gets off scot free, while leaving a simmering freya at the bar.

"i hate that she does that," she mutters. 

Mei Liu KING WAYLAND

☉